Incisional ear surgery; Classical surgical methods in eardrum surgeries are performed by making an incision at certain points in front of or behind the ear, and a microscope is used during the procedure. For this reason, after the surgery, incisions should be closed by suturing and dressings should be made.

For the treatment of the eardrum, classical surgical methods performed by incision are gradually being replaced by more alternative methods. In particular, the endoscopic method, as in many treatment methods, is an effective and highly successful alternative to classical methods in eardrum treatment. Before going into detail regarding eardrum membrane surgery performed with the endoscopic method, it would be useful to briefly touch upon the health problems that may necessitate the surgery on the eardrum.

Content

• What is the Eardrum?
• Eardrum Surgeries
• How is it Performed?

What is the Eardrum?

The eardrum is the area between the middle ear and the outer eardrum, which acts as a barrier. In addition to its barrier function, the eardrum is an important area with hearing-related functions in that it is the surface area where sound waves hit.

The eardrum can be damaged as a result of ear discharge, constant ground noise, hearing loss and especially middle ear infections. Since the eardrum has important functions for hearing, if it is damaged, it can cause hearing loss if timely intervention is not exercised. In cases requiring eardrum surgery, detailed observation of the eardrum tissue has a very important place in terms of effectively and successfully eliminating the problem. In this respect, eardrum surgeries performed using endoscopic method offer healthy opportunities for the correct detection and treatment of the source of the problem, in terms of providing a wide field of view.

Eardrum Surgeries

Eardrum surgeries are operations performed to eliminate health problems which occur in the eardrum and lead to various other problems.

In general, we can list the purposes of eardrum surgeries performed for problems occurring in the eardrum as follows;

• Repairing a hole in the eardrum
• Repair of ear ossicles
• Cleaning infections in the middle ear cavity
• Restoration of hearing functions

Classic eardrum surgeries generally have a certain procedure and a certain standard for methods applied. In this respect, we can list the procedures applied in classical eardrum surgeries as follows;

• A classical eardrum surgery is performed using a microscope. During surgery, the area where treatment is required is observed through a microscope.
• In classical eardrum surgeries, an incision is made on the skin behind the auricle and the middle ear cavity is reached through this incision. However, in order to access the middle ear cavity, most of the time, healthy ear bone is pierced with special tools and a path is opened.
• Since incision is performed in classic eardrum surgeries, it is necessary to then stitch the places where the incision is made. After the operation, it is necessary to apply dressings and bandages to the stitched areas. These conditions decrease comfort during the postoperative recovery period of the patient.

In classic eardrum surgeries, performing surgical procedures through incisions made in front of, behind or inside the ear can cause negative situations both in terms of incision marks, bandages and the pain they cause, as well as in terms of the quality of recovery of the patient after the surgery. In this regard, the endoscopic method is preferred, especially in recent times, as eardrum surgeries that can be performed without incision.

How is Incisionless Eardrum Surgery Performed?

Recent developments in technology made possible the use of alternative surgery methods in eardrum surgery. Endoscopic eardrum surgeries, which emerged as an alternative to classic eardrum surgeries and had very successful results, come with technological changes both in terms of method and application.

We can list the procedures performed in eardrum surgeries performed by endoscopic method as follows;

• In endoscopic eardrum surgeries, no incision is made.
• Access is provided through the external ear canal using technological imaging tools called endoscopes. With no incision, the image obtained through the outer ear is transferred to a large monitor and the surgery is performed under this wide view. This situation also creates an advantage in terms of providing a wide field of view to the physician and applying the most effective treatment with the help of this wide field of view.
• Endoscopes are technological tools that can be used at different angles compared to the microscopes used in classic eardrum surgeries. With angled endoscopes, areas that cannot be viewed and reached with a microscope can be viewed more easily.
• In endoscopic eardrum surgeries, diseased tissues can be cleaned in detail and healthy tissues can be largely preserved.
• Endoscopic eardrum surgeries are performed more sensitively and in detail compared to eardrum surgeries using a microscope, therefore providing more successful results.
• Less tissue damage occurs in eardrum surgeries performed with the endoscopic method than in eardrum surgeries performed using a microscope. This ensures that the post-operative recovery of the patient is much faster.

Since no incision is made during eardrum surgeries performed with the endoscopic method, no stitching is required. There is no bandage or dressing that needs to be applied after the surgery. Another positive result of this situation is that the patient can return to his daily life quite quickly and has a comfortable recovery period.

Endoscope is used in combination with microscopes in many surgical applications and provide a more qualified and healthy operation in cases where microscope is insufficient.

Endoscopic method in eardrum surgeries enables fast and effective treatment, where patients can be discharged on the same day without incision.