Myringoplasty

Myringoplasty (my-RING-ah-plast-ee) is a surgery to repair (patch) a hole in your child’s eardrum. Your child will be able to go home on the day of surgery (outpatient surgery).

• Be gentle with your child’s ear.
• Make sure your hands are clean when doing any ear care.
• Apply ear drops as directed by your doctor.
• You may use cotton in the ear while sleeping or after putting in ear drops to help soak up ear drainage.
• Bathing/swimming and water exposure to the operated ear:
  • Keep water out of your child’s ear until their follow-up visit with the doctor after surgery.
  • Wait at least 2 days after surgery to wash your child’s hair.
  • Use cotton balls covered with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or wax ear plugs to keep water out of your child’s ear canal when they take a bath or shower after surgery.
• Avoid and prevent any hits or bumps while the ear is healing.
• Avoid strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks or as directed by your doctor.
• If you live very far from the hospital, you can drive or fly home within 2 days of surgery.
  • Avoid driving over high mountain passes or flying between 2 days and 2 weeks after surgery. Then it is OK to be at high altitude or fly again.
• Your child may notice that food tastes different after surgery on 1 side of the tongue. This usually goes away after a few weeks to months.

We often place gelatin-like material made from purified pig skin (Gelfoam) in the ear canal during surgery. It will slowly come out of the ear over the next few weeks. It is normal to have pink or bloody drainage from the ear canal after surgery. Call your doctor or nurse if the ear drainage becomes thick, yellow or smells bad.

Your child’s ear will feel uncomfortable for the first few days after surgery. Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) to relieve discomfort. Check with your doctor first before giving any type of medicine to your child. Rest will help, too. If your child has extreme pain or discomfort, please call your doctor or nurse.

It is hard to avoid colds, but please try. Getting plenty of rest, eating a balanced diet, and washing hands often will help. If your child catches a cold or has allergies, help them to not blow their nose with force. Gently clear all secretions from the nose and mouth. Remind your child to sneeze with their mouth open. This will help prevent extra pressure in the ears.