What problems may occur as a result of an eardrum perforation?
Debris, dirty water and bacteria may enter the middle ear through the perforation. This may result in an infection commonly associated with a purulent discharge out of the ear. Most perforations are associated with hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss depends in part on the size of the perforation, the location of the perforation on the eardrum, and whether there is other pathology present in the ear. In some cases, skin can grow around the margins of the perforation, forming a skin cyst (cholesteatoma), in the middle ear and mastoid. However, in many patients with a perforation of the eardrum, the ear remains free of infection and can be safely left without surgical closure of the perforation. What can be done to repair the perforation? Some perforations will heal spontaneously without any surgical intervention. In some cases, a paper patch can be placed over the perforation as an office procedure to promote healing. Many times, surgery is required to close the perforation. What i
