Tympanic Membrane
A tympanoplasty is done by a surgeon accessing your eardrum and patching the hole. Studies show tympanoplasty surgery successfully treats ruptured eardrums in 93% of people who have the surgery.
Tympanoplasties are completed in steps, starting with obtaining tissue to patch the hole in your eardrum. The surgeon obtains a small piece of tissue called temporalis fascia to create the graft or patch. Your temporalis fascia is the connective tissue that lines your temporalis muscle, the muscle located on each side of your head near your temples. They may also use cartilage from your tragus (the bump in front of your ear). Providers may also patch the hole with a piece of synthetic material that integrates with your body.Next, your provider lifts your eardrum to place graft material underneath your eardrum. Your provider then places foam over your eardrum to hold the graft in place while your eardrum heals. Over time, your eardrum grows new tissue, using the graft material as the foundation.