The ear consists of three parts: outer, middle and inner. The middle ear includes the eardrum and ear ossicles
. Any disease affecting the eardrum or ossicles prevents the transmission of sound from the outer ear to the inner ear, causing conductive hearing loss. Such a disease may vary from a hole in the eardrum, to destruction of one or more of the ear ossicles, to disruption of the bone chain.
When an inflammation occurs in the middle ear, the eardrum may perforate and the inflammation may flow out. . This hole often heals and closes
on its own. If it does not heal, hearing loss usually occurs with tinnitus and intermittent or continuous discharge.
Ear Care
If your eardrum is perforated, you should not leak water into your ear. While taking a bath or washing your head, you should put a piece of cotton coated with vaseline into your ear. While swimming, it is useful to wear a swimming cap tightly over Vaseline-soaked cotton
. Additionally, earplugs of different sizes are sold in markets and pharmacies.
You should avoid blowing your nose forcefully. This event causes the microbes in the nose and nasal passages to reach the middle ear through the "eustachian
tube" located between the nasal cavity and the middle ear. Runny nose
should be inhaled and spit out. If you really need to blow your nose, it is recommended that you do this without closing your other nostril.
As long as there is ear discharge, the ear should be cleaned as much as possible without inserting anything
into it. If there is or has started ear discharge, medication should be used. Cotton can be placed in the ear canal to detect the presence of discharge, but this should not constantly block the discharge.
Medication
Drug treatment will mostly stop ear discharge. Treatment requires intermittent cleaning of the ear and the use of drops or powder. Oral antibiotics must be used in certain people.
Surgical Treatment
For years, the main purpose of chronic middle ear surgery has been to control inflammation and prevent the harmful
effects it may develop. Recently hearing Methods have been developed to
recover the eardrum.
Many tissues can be used to patch or rebuild the eardrum. These tissues are like "the skin of the ear canal, the membrane covering the muscle on the ear, and cartilage". A damaged ear ossicle can be reimplanted, or an artificial bone can be used. Sometimes, instead of a fused ear ossicle,
cartilage can also be used.
Eardrum Repair (Myringoplasty)
Most middle ear infections heal on their own, while some leave behind a perforated eardrum.
br /> Eardrum repair protects the middle ear and sometimes improves hearing. This operation can be performed in people who have no damage to the ossicles of the middle ear and the inflammation has dried up. The operation is performed through the external ear
canal or behind the auricle. The tissues mentioned above are used to create or patch the eardrum.
The person can return to work within seven to ten days. Full recovery occurs within approximately six weeks, and only then
can it be understood how the operation affects hearing.
Middle Ear Repair (Tympanoplasty)
Middle ear inflammation occurs in the middle ear ossicles along with the eardrum. It may cause damage. Tympanoplasty is the name given to the repair of both the eardrum and this ossicular chain. This operation allows
repair of the eardrum and often better hearing.
The operation is performed behind the auricle or through the external auditory canal. The middle ear ossicular chain is repaired by reshaping the ossicles or with other tissues, and the membrane is also repaired.
In some people, it is not possible to repair both the ossicular chain and the membrane at the same time. In this case, the eardrum is repaired first, and the ossicles are repaired after four months or more. This is called "staged
operation".
The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The person can return to work within seven to ten days
after the operation. Healing is complete in about six weeks. Hearing improvement may not be felt for several months.
Bone Behind the Ear (Mastoidectomy) and Middle Ear Repair (Tympanoplasty)
In some people, inflammation causes a hole in the tissue in the external ear canal. It enters the eardrum and causes it to spread into the bones of the middle ear and behind the ear. If this happens, a skin-covered mass called "cholesteatoma" forms. This mass gradually expands over the years and destroys the surrounding bone tissues. If “cholesteatoma”
is present, ear discharge becomes more constant, frequent and foul-smelling. In many patients, the reason for constant discharge
is chronic inflammation of the bone tissue surrounding the ear.
If cholesteatoma or inflammation of the bone tissue has occurred, the chance of treating this disease with medication is very
low. Antibiotics taken by mouth or drops only provide temporary relief. After treatment
is discontinued, recurrence is common.
Cholesteatoma or chronic ear infection can persist for years without causing any complaints
other than bothersome discharge and hearing loss. However, it is more common for it to spread to the surrounding tissue by local advancement and pressure. If this happens, the patient often feels fullness and dull pain in the ear. Severe
dizziness, facial nerve weakness or facial paralysis may develop. If any of these complaints develop, the patient must undergo surgical treatment. Surgery is necessary to eliminate inflammation and prevent serious
complications that may develop.
If the cholesteatoma has caused significant damage to the ear bone, it may be difficult to remove it
surgically. The operation is performed through an incision behind the ear. The main goal is to eliminate
inflammation and obtain a dry, safe ear.
In approximately one-third of patients with cholesteatoma, it is not possible to both eliminate
inflammation and repair hearing in a single operation. In the first operation, the inflammation can be eliminated and the eardrum can be repaired
. The patient can usually return to work after two weeks.
The second operation to restore hearing can be performed six to twenty-four months later.
Repeat of Middle Ear Repair (Tympanoplasty) and Behind-the-Ear Bone (Mastoidectomy) Operation
The purpose of this operation is to get rid of the discharge from the gap created as a result of radical ear surgery,
to fill the gap and to improve hearing.
The operation is performed behind the ear. Fat or muscle behind the ear It can be used to fill the
stoid space. If possible, ear ossicles, artificial ossicles, or cartilage can be used to repair the hearing
mechanism, but another
operation is usually required to achieve hearing recovery.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can return to work two weeks after the operation.
Hearing improvement may not be felt for several months.
Radical Mastoid Operation
The purpose of this operation is to eliminate ear infection without taking hearing into consideration. The operation is performed on patients with very persistent ear infections. In patients who are initially deemed suitable for middle ear repair, radical ear surgery may be necessary, although rarely. This decision must be made
during the operation. A muscle transplant taken from behind the ear may also be necessary for smoother healing.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can usually return to work after two weeks.
Mastoid Obliteration (Filling) Operation
/> The purpose of this operation is to dry the inflammation in the mastoid and to fill the previously created
space. Hearing improvement is not taken into account.
The operation is performed through an incision behind the ear. To fill the mastoid cavity, muscle or fat taken from behind the ear
is used. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can return to work
after two weeks.
Findings in Your Ear
The findings in your ear will be explained to you by your doctor after the examination and tests.
What kind of an operation will result from this? necessary will be decided together.
General Comments
If the surgery is unsuccessful, hearing usually remains at the level before the operation. In three percent of operated
patients, there is a possibility of further hearing loss. Following the operation, rarely, ear discharge, buzzing in the head, taste disturbance or dizziness may occur for a while. Facial weakness may develop in
less than one percent of patients. This is mostly a temporary complication.
If surgery is not performed now, it is recommended that you have your annual check-ups and come for an examination immediately, especially in case of ear discharge.
If in ear If you develop dull pain, increased discharge, dizziness, facial numbness or slippage, you should consult your doctor immediately.
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