Tympanoplasty, myringoplasty, ossiculoplasty, mastoidectomy

These words are sometimes used loosely and are interchangeably by doctors, which can add to a degree of confusion. A myringoplasty means a repair or refashioning of the eardrum, an ossuculoplasty involves removal of replacement or refashioning of the three little bones of the ear and a mastoidectomy implies drilling away the bones over the mastoid air cells to improve aeration or remove cholesteatoma. A tympanoplasty can mean combining one or more of the above previously mentioned operations. The purpose of a tympanomplasty/mastoid operation is first and foremost to remove disease from the mastoid air cells; this is usually cholesteatoma or other infective material. The first aim of the operation therefore is to render the ear "safe". Unfortunately the price to be paid for making the ear "safe" may be either the creation of a mastoid cavity which requires long term care or become infected or indeed a reduction in the level of hearing. For this reason over the years many methods have been sort to try and get the best of both worlds, i.e. a safe ear and a dry ear, which hears normally. This is not always achievable and depends entirely on the original anatomy and also on the skill and training of the individual surgeon. There is debate within the medical profession as to the optimum treatment for various conditions affecting the ear and you would be advised to read some of the following links and to discuss cases with a surgeon with an interest in ear disease.