Key Aspects of Micro Ear Surgery

1. Use of Microscope

• Surgeons use an operating microscope to magnify the small and delicate structures of the ear.
• Allows for better visualization and precision during the operation.

2. Common Procedures

Here are some of the most common types of micro ear surgeries:

a. Tympanoplasty

• Repair of the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
• Often done to treat perforations caused by chronic ear infections.

b. Ossiculoplasty

• Reconstruction or repair of the ossicles (tiny middle ear bones: malleus, incus, stapes).
• Helps restore hearing when these bones are damaged or malformed.

c. Stapedectomy

• Removal and replacement of the stapes bone (usually with a prosthesis).
• Commonly performed for otosclerosis, a condition that causes abnormal bone growth in the middle ear.

d. Mastoidectomy

• Removal of infected air cells in the mastoid bone, located behind the ear.
• Performed for chronic infections or cholesteatoma (an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear).

e. Cochlear Implant Surgery

• Implantation of an electronic hearing device in patients with severe hearing loss or deafness.

3. Indications

• Chronic otitis media (middle ear infections)
• Cholesteatoma
• Otosclerosis
• Tympanic membrane perforations
• Conductive hearing loss
• Congenital ear deformities

4. Benefits

• Improved hearing
• Elimination or reduction of chronic infections
• Restoration of ear anatomy
• Minimally invasive with faster recovery times compared to older techniques

5. Risks and Complications

• Hearing loss (if inner ear is damaged)
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Infection
• Facial nerve damage (rare)

6. Recovery

• Typically outpatient procedures or short hospital stays
• Recovery time varies from days to a few weeks depending on the surgery
• Patients may need to avoid water exposure and heavy activity for a while