Middle Ear And Mastoid Surgery

What conditions might need a middle ear or mastoid surgery?

Two ear diseases that often require middle ear or mastoid surgery are:

Chronic otitis media (middle ear infection)

Middle ear infections occur when the space behind your eardrum becomes inflamed and infected. These infections often arise from a cold, the flu, allergies, blocked eustachian tubes, or enlarged adenoids.

Swelling traps fluid in the space behind the eardrum. As the fluid builds up, it presses against the eardrum. In addition to causing pain, chronic otitis media can result in a ruptured eardrum.

When you have chronic otitis media, the inflammation can spread and cause inflammation in the mastoid bone. This condition, called mastoiditis, is uncommon but may lead to an abscess, bone erosion, and hearing loss.

Cholesteatoma

If you suffer a ruptured eardrum, the skin debris that normally leaves your ear with the help of earwax ends up going into your middle ear. Then the debris may build up and form a cyst called a cholesteatoma.

Over time, cholesteatomas enlarge, potentially damaging bones and causing dizziness or hearing loss.

What symptoms indicate middle ear and mastoid problems?

The classic symptoms of middle ear problems include:

• Ear pain
• Drainage from the ear
• Difficulty hearing
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Ringing in your ear

Severe dizziness or vertigo may cause nausea or vomiting.

What are the middle ear and mastoid surgery procedures?

These are the most common middle ear and mastoid procedures:

Myringoplasty

This surgery repairs a hole in the eardrum using a small piece of tissue.

Tympanoplasty

Tympanoplasty refers to a more extensive procedure to repair the eardrum. In addition to fixing a hole, your provider may remove scar tissue and perform an ossiculoplasty.

Ossiculoplasty

Ossiculoplasty is a procedure to repair the tiny bones (ossicles) responsible for transmitting sound.

Tympanostomy

Tympanostomy is a procedure to cut a tiny hole in the eardrum and insert a tube. The tube reduces pressure and allows excess mucus and infected fluids to drain from the middle ear.

Mastoidectomy

A mastoidectomy refers to removing part of the mastoid bone. You may need a mastoidectomy to remove a cholesteatoma or infected tissues.

Your provider may also perform a mastoidectomy to insert a cochlear implant. The team at Colorado West Otolaryngologists, PC, uses the latest cochlear and bone-anchored implants. These implantable solutions improve hearing in people who are severely hard of hearing, deaf, or have mixed hearing loss.

If you have chronic ear pain, call your nearest office of Colorado West Otolaryngologists, PC, or book an appointment online today.