What are the risks of tympanostomy tubes?
Approximately 10% of children with tympanostomy tubes continue to have ear infections with drainage and pain. However, these bouts of infection that require antibiotics probably would have occurred without the tubes. Normally the tubes come out and fall into the ear canal after about a year. Complications may occur when the tubes come out. Sometimes they come out too quickly and need to be replaced by another set. Rarely, they fall into the middle ear space and need to be removed by the surgeon. If the tubes remain in the eardrum for over 2 years, the surgeon may need to remove them. After the tubes come out, they may leave scars on the eardrum or a small hole (perforation) that doesn’t heal. Both of these problems can cause a small hearing loss. Because of these possible complications and the need to give anesthesia to young children before the operation, physicians recommend tympanostomy tubes only for children who really need them.
