Tympanomastoidectomy

What is a tympanomastoidectomy?

A tympanomastoidectomy (say “tim-PAN-oh-mas-toyd-ECK-tuh-mee”) is surgery that accesses disease through a cut behind your ear.

When is surgery recommended?

There are several reasons your doctor may be recommending this surgery. These include:

• Infection
• Repair of the hearing bones or eardrum
• To remove skin trapped in the inner parts of your ear (cholesteatoma).

What should I expect from surgery?

You are usually fully asleep during surgery. The doctor will do the surgery through a cut (incision) behind your ear and remove the abnormal or infected tissue in the bony area behind the ear. This area is called the mastoid. The doctor will repair the eardrum if required. The doctor also may repair the three tiny bones in the middle ear that help with hearing. When the doctor has finished the surgery, the incision will be closed with stitches.

What are the risks?

With all surgeries in the ear, there are risks: Failure to close the hole in the eardrum, Failure to improve hearing, Partial or total hearing loss (1 to 5 in 100), Damage to the nerve that controls the movement of your face (1 in 100), Changes in taste, Development of cholesteatoma (skin trapped in the inner parts of your ear) which requires further surgery to remove

What should I expect after surgery?

You will probably go home on the same day as your surgery. You will have a bandage over your head or ear which can be removed in 48 hours. Most people can go back to work or their normal routine in about 1 to 2 weeks. But if your job requires strenuous activity or heavy lifting, you may need to take more time off. Your doctor can help you decide when to go back to work.