Concept
Tympanic membrane perforation
Tympanic membrane perforations can be due to a variety of causes including middle ear infection, barotrauma, acoustic trauma, foreign objects, and severe head trauma. Sources quote varying statistics for the rate of healing but at least 90% of small and medium perforations should heal within 6 to 8 weeks. Large perforations and perforations complicated by middle ear disease may have delayed healing. For non-healing perforations after 8 weeks or patients presenting initially with complications of significant hearing loss, temporal bone fracture or middle ear disease, a referral to ENT should be made for consideration of surgical intervention. The most common operation for repair of a tympanic membrane perforation is a myringoplasty.
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