Ruptured Eardrum

A ruptured ear drum or perforated tympanic membrane as it's medically known is a hole or tear in the eardrum, the thin tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear. A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss and also make the middle ear vulnerable to infections or injury. A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. Sometimes, however, a ruptured eardrum requires a procedure or surgical repair to heal. Signs and symptoms: Ear pain that may subside quickly, Clear, pus-filled or bloody drainage from your ear, Hearing loss, Ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and Spinning sensation (vertigo).

If the tear or hole in your eardrum doesn't close on its own, an ENT specialist may seal it with a patch. With this office procedure, ENT may apply a chemical to the edges of the tear to stimulate growth and then apply a patch over the hole. The procedure may need to be repeated more than once before the hole closes. If a patch doesn't result in proper healing then surgical procedure called tympanoplasty is to be done. The surgeon grafts a tiny patch of our own tissue to close the hole in the eardrum.