How is the eardrum punctured for otitis media? Puncture of the eardrum: stages of the procedure Puncture of the eardrum

Ear disorders and diseases, accompanied by complications, can lead to pathology of the eardrum. The consequences, from hearing problems to inflammation of the middle canal, will not keep you waiting. That is why it is necessary to be able to recognize and treat pathology in time.

Sometimes the eardrum has to be punctured intentionally if other methods of treating otitis media do not help. The operation and subsequent therapy require care to avoid negative prognosis.

A puncture of the eardrum due to otitis media that occurs without surgical intervention requires treatment. Diagnosing a problem begins with determining the causes of its occurrence. Among them are:

Inflammation of the middle ear or otitis media. The disease is accompanied by discharge of purulent fluid. The accumulated mucus puts pressure on the membrane, exacerbating the disease. Due to the complications and consequences of otitis, a puncture of the eardrum is one of the symptoms of the purulent form of the pathology. Then the gap requires treatment. Sometimes an incision of the eardrum is necessary for otitis media. In this case, the puncture is not a symptom, but a method of treatment.
Strong pressure on the hearing organ. Occurs during immersion in water, during flights, if the nose remains closed at the time of sneezing.
Loud noise. Explosions and unexpected loud sounds cause the eardrum to burst.
Mechanical damage. Improper hygiene procedures, for example, cleaning the ear with an inappropriate object, can damage the membrane.
Thermal injury. The danger lies in hot liquid getting into the ear area in everyday life or work conditions.
Insertion of foreign objects into the ear canal. If this happens rarely in adults and due to negligence, then children often suffer from damage to the membrane for this reason.

Symptoms of eardrum damage

A rupture or incision of the eardrum during otitis media does not go unnoticed. Damage to the membrane in everyday life or surgical intervention is accompanied by the following symptoms:

The appearance of a sharp, acute pain that subsides after some time;
Noise in the hearing organs;
Purulent discharge from the ear canal (provoked by perforation of the eardrum during otitis media);
The appearance of blood or sanguineous fluids (in case of mechanical damage to the ear);
Hearing impairment;
Increased temperature in case of infection.

Damage to the eardrum during otitis media internal causes disruption of the vestibular apparatus and dizziness. Severe ruptures of the membrane are accompanied by air discharge from the ear canal.

At the first symptoms of eardrum perforation, treatment is necessary. It is better to seek help from an ENT specialist - he will conduct an examination, prescribe suitable medications and operate on the membrane in case of a critical situation.

Treatment of eardrum perforation

In half of the cases, the damaged membrane heals itself. The recovery process takes several weeks and, if there are no complications, additional treatment is not necessary. If less than a quarter of the membrane is damaged, the rupture heals much faster.

The only thing required is to leave your ears completely alone.

However, there are situations when the perforation does not heal on its own. In this case, experienced doctors can prescribe one of the treatment methods or prescribe complex therapy.

Medicinal healing of the membrane

Medicines have a rather auxiliary effect in the recovery process.

A small wound can be covered with a paper patch. The medicine used during the procedure stimulates the process of creating new cells. Three to four applications have maximum effect.

The presence of blood or dirt in the ear requires cleaning the passage to prevent infection of the inside of the hearing organ. The accumulations are removed with a cotton swab, then the affected ear is disinfected with alcohol.

Cauterizing agents such as chromic acid or silver nitrate also help close small lesions. You cannot treat the entire wound - only its edges.

To prevent the infection from entering the cavity of the middle ear and causing complications, sometimes doctors prescribe antibiotics.

Acute otitis media, accompanied by membrane rupture, requires a full course of therapy for this particular disease.

Surgical solution to the problem

Medication therapy sometimes turns out to be ineffective. A large burst radius is also possible. Then the patient needs surgical treatment.

General anesthesia is required before the myringoplasty procedure.

Then the doctor makes an incision in the skin above the ear, separates a piece of it and uses it to stitch the burst membrane.

A flexible endoscope is inserted into the ear canal. With its help, skin taken from above the ear is used to close the hole in the membrane. Self-absorbable threads are used.

The sutures hold the flap in place throughout the entire recovery period, until the damaged membrane is completely healed. To prevent infection of the middle ear, cotton wool moistened with an antibacterial drug is placed into the canal.

After myringoplasty, the patient may experience discomfort. In order not to put pressure on the incompletely fused eardrum and to prevent displacement of the flap, doctors advise avoiding sharp nasal breaths.

There are situations when the membrane is punctured intentionally. The purpose of the operation is to rid the ear of the pus accumulated behind the membrane due to otitis media. Otherwise, complications of the disease, hearing loss, subsequent infection, development of the pathology into a chronic form, constant discomfort and severe pain are possible.

The operation is carried out in several simple steps. Before piercing the membrane, the incision site must be numbed. Anesthesia is performed in three different ways:

Provodnikov. An injection containing an anesthetic is given in the area behind the ear. The injection freezes the nerves and the pain in the membrane ceases to be felt.
Application. The membrane is treated with an anesthetic drug on a cotton ball.
General. Using this method, the eardrum of a child with otitis media is often pierced. Local anesthesia will not help to avoid the baby’s whims and constant head movements that interfere with the operation.

For paracentesis of the eardrum, a spear-shaped needle is used. The membrane is cut from below. Sometimes a shunt is placed in the puncture - this makes it easier to remove pus from the ear and reduces the likelihood of it settling behind the membrane.

ethnoscience

Sometimes folk remedies turn out to be no less valid than classical medicine.

Of course, they cannot completely replace drug therapy. But the methods agreed upon by the doctor will perfectly complement the main treatment.

The healing process of a ruptured membrane will be accelerated by foods high in vitamin C. For example, rosehip decoction, hawthorn infusion, various types of citrus fruits.

To prevent the body from losing energy during recovery, sweet grapes will help replenish its reserves.

Turundas are moistened with plantain juice, pine needles, and nightshade-based tincture, then placed in the ear.

Medications

Since the membrane with otitis media takes quite a long time to heal, even if the other symptoms have passed, healing can be helped with the help of various medications.

Anti-inflammatory and healing drugs are used.

In severe cases, antibiotic-based ear drops and steroid medications are prescribed.

Possible complications

Incorrect or incomplete restoration of the eardrum is fraught with negative consequences. The most common complications are:

Remains of purulent contents. Rupture of the eardrum during otitis media in a child and an adult may be accompanied by discharge from the ear canal. If the membrane has already healed and pus remains in the ear, the symptoms will remain, and the disease may develop into a chronic form.
Infection. The entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the middle ear is possible due to lack of sterility during surgery or due to inadequate hygiene after it. If you know what the eardrum looks like during otitis and where it is located, it is not difficult to guess the danger - the infection is located next to the brain and can affect it too.
Partial hearing loss. Large scars and loss of functionality of the auditory ossicles cause problems of this kind.

Prognosis and prevention

Proper therapy for a ruptured eardrum or a high-quality operation to puncture it gives a positive prognosis. That's why you shouldn't be afraid of damage.

For rehabilitation to be successful and for re-infection to not occur, the patient must follow the prescribed regimen and follow the simplest rules of hygiene. In general, the membrane heals in less than three weeks. A small scar will not affect hearing function in any way.

Surgery or membrane rupture requires special ear care. A special turund is placed in the passage. Purulent otitis media requires periodic replacement to avoid the spread of infection. To prevent pus from remaining in the middle ear cavity, it is advised to sleep with your head on the sore side down.

It is also worth using antiseptic agents to treat the wound regularly. In order not to injure the auricle, it is better to seek help from an ENT specialist.

If the operation is performed incorrectly or hygiene rules are not followed, complications may occur.

Following simple preventive measures will help avoid a ruptured eardrum:

Clean your ears carefully. Do not use sharp objects. Do not allow foreign objects to enter the ear.
Avoid excessive noise;
Use ear protection during flights;
Avoid traveling by plane if you have diseases of the nose, ears, or allergic reactions;
Diagnose and treat otitis media and all related diseases in a timely manner.

Damage to the eardrum or surgery to cut the membrane is not dangerous. In any case, they require high-quality and proper treatment.

With otitis of various etiologies, with purulent-inflammatory processes in the middle ear cavity, sometimes an ENT doctor at an outpatient appointment has to perform paracentesis of the eardrum. Quite often, parents whose children are undergoing this procedure are afraid of having it done. Many adult patients are also simply afraid to perform paracentesis, even if indicated. What kind of manipulation is this, why is it needed, and how is it carried out?

In medical terminology, this word refers to any puncture or incision, the size of which is very small. Paracentesis of the abdominal cavity (laparocentesis) can be performed if fluid accumulates in it. In this case we are talking about a cut in the eardrum. Another name for the term is tympanotomy.

Puncture of the membrane has been introduced into clinical practice for a very long time, since it immediately alleviates the patient’s condition and prevents the spread of purulent inflammation to the deeper structures of the inner ear.

Tympanotomy is one of those manipulations that is better to perform several times, when there are indications for it, than not to do it at all. The consequences of a breakthrough of pus into the cavity of the inner ear and onto the meninges can cause a very serious secondary purulent-inflammatory complication, for example, such as purulent meningitis, and the consequences can be unpredictable.

Indications and contraindications

Any puncture is necessary in order to eliminate the zone of formed pressure, localized in a limited area. Most often, this manipulation is carried out in case of acute purulent otitis media, or in case of exacerbation of a chronic process.

Puncture of the eardrum during otitis allows you to quickly release pus out, reduce severe painful pulsation, eliminate the threat of spontaneous perforation and prevent the development of complications. We list the main indications for tympanotomy:

There is an effusion, or accumulation of pus in the tympanic cavity;
there is an acute, shooting pain in the ear due to fever and intoxication.

But the main symptom indicating the need for paracentesis is a pronounced bulging outward of the eardrum. It is this sign that indicates the creation of an area of significant pressure in the tympanic cavity.

If the eardrum is not pierced, then inflammation of the middle ear will spread to the inner ear, with the development of symptoms of labyrinitis. Irritation of the cranial nerves that control vestibular and cochlear function may also occur, leading to symptoms of dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

If pus breaks out from the area of the inner ear onto the meninges, the patient will develop meningeal syndrome - an acute, bursting headache, vomiting like a fountain without nausea, and other signs of acute purulent meningitis.

Technique

Before performing a paracentesis, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the outer ear, external auditory canal, internal meatus, and the eardrum itself. After this, the surface of the eardrum and surrounding tissue is cleaned with a disinfectant and treated with alcohol.

Then anesthesia is performed, since the eardrum is well innervated, and with severe inflammation, any touch to it is painful. The eardrum receives sensitive innervation from the trigeminal and vagus nerves, so local anesthesia is most often used by injecting anesthetics into the external auditory canal (application), or conduction - placing a postauricular blockade, which leads to interruption of the passage of impulses along the auriculotemporal nerve.

Sometimes in childhood even general anesthesia is indicated, which is given for a short time. Substances such as nitrous oxide are preferred, and in particularly restless adults, intravenous anesthesia can be used.

A prerequisite for correct paracentesis is a firm fixation of the patient's head. After the patient is seated or laid down, the doctor takes a special spear-shaped needle, which can not only pierce, but also cut through the surface of the eardrum.

After a careful examination, the doctor determines the zone of maximum protrusion of the membrane, which usually corresponds to the zone of greatest pressure. The puncture can also be carried out in the area of its posterior quadrant, since a puncture in this place is fraught with the least possible damage.

Then, with a quick and precise movement, a puncture (incision) is made, with a spear-shaped needle inserted to a depth of about one and a half millimeters. To ensure that the depth is not greater than necessary, there are special limiters.

Usually, when the procedure is carried out correctly, serous or purulent fluid begins to flow out immediately under pressure. Sometimes the eardrum is significantly thickened, which is a consequence of chronic and long-term inflammation. In this case, the paracentesis may not be performed to the full depth of the membrane, and repeated movement may be required.

At the end of the procedure, the ear canal is washed with special antiseptics and dried.

Tympanotomy in children

In children, sometimes no significant protrusion of the eardrum can be noticed, despite the accumulation of purulent exudate. And in young children with dehydration, there may be no changes at all on the eardrum due to purulent otitis media. The maximum that a doctor can see is a cloudy color, unclear contours of the hammer handle and a decrease in the shine of the membrane.

In some cases, all identifying points of the eardrum are clearly visible, but there is a yellowish-brownish color that is unusual for its surface. An important feature of the course of otitis media in young children is severe intoxication, which does not occur in adults. That is why paracentesis of the eardrum in children can be performed without significant bulging, for broader indications. After general anesthesia is given, performing manipulations in children does not cause any particular difficulties.

Possible complications

Most often, the development of complications is associated with either inept manipulation, or insufficient pain relief, or insufficient head fixation. In this case, the needle can injure both the eardrum and the wall of the ear canal, or the needle can be inserted too deeply.

Sometimes, on the contrary, it is not possible to pierce the eardrum, although the doctor thinks that the puncture is complete. In this case, spontaneous inflammation subsequently occurs, which heals with the appearance of rough scars. In this case, purulent exudate remains inside the tympanic cavity, which leads to hearing loss as a long-term complication of acute purulent otitis media.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is worth saying that at present, due to the advent of effective antibiotics for local and parenteral use, as well as the increased level of sanitary culture of the urban population, in case of acute otitis, people turn to an ENT doctor quite early, and this allows one to avoid a pronounced accumulation of exudate in the tympanic cavities.

Therefore, paracentesis is not used as often as in the middle, for example, of the last century. But tympanotomy is still considered one of the urgent, simple, and extremely important outpatient ENT operations, which allows not only to avoid severe purulent-septic complications such as encephalitis and meningitis, but to save the patient from possible hearing loss, dizziness, labyrinthitis and other complications.

Paracentesis of the eardrum is a medical procedure that involves making an incision to remove eardrum that has accumulated during inflammation of the middle ear. After the manipulation, the patient’s general condition improves, the temperature decreases and pain disappears.

When should manipulation be performed?

Paracentesis of the tympanic membrane is prescribed for purulent or catarrhal otitis, but only of acute form.

In the second case, surgery is envisaged if there is no improvement in the patient’s condition after drug therapy. Sometimes an incision of the eardrum is prescribed at the initial stage of development of the pathology due to severe intoxication against the background of the pathology.

Pain in acute otitis is constant and is a consequence of the pressure of accumulated fluid on the eardrum. Paracentesis helps remove pus from the auditory cavity; the procedure reduces internal pressure on the walls of the hearing organs. After the manipulation, the pain instantly subsides and the overall body temperature decreases.

The purpose of paracentesis in the case is associated with. Doctors often observe the development of such a situation due to accumulated pus inside the auditory tube; this process reduces the mobility of the eardrum.

There are several main signs indicating the need for surgical intervention:

During inflammatory processes, acute throbbing pain in the ear is observed

sharp throbbing pain;
high temperature 38–39 degrees;
bulging eardrum;
neuritis of the facial nerve;
nausea and general weakness of the body.

Paracentesis is often prescribed if meningitis, brain inflammation, or hearing impairment due to mechanical damage are suspected.

The essence of paracentesis

Eardrum bypass

During the operation, a puncture is made; in case of otitis, the accumulated fluid is removed through it. In the future, the damaged membrane is restored on its own. Making an incision is a safer option, unlike a natural one, healing occurs much faster. Sometimes the manipulation is performed simultaneously with sanitation of the middle ear and tympanoplasty. Which helps cleanse the auditory cavity of pathogens and pus residues. The purpose of the procedure does not depend on the age of the patient.

Technology and its features

Before performing paracentesis, the appropriate type of anesthesia is selected.

The procedure for performing paracentesis is simple; the main factor is the choice of the appropriate type of anesthesia.

Conduction method - an injection with an anesthetic is performed behind the inflamed ear. This allows you to freeze the nerve responsible for the sensitivity of the membrane.

Application manipulation - an anesthetic drug is applied directly to the formation inside the ear with a cotton swab.

The general method is used in exceptional cases when the patient is unable to sit in one place for a long time and hold his head still; caution applies to children. Often the operation is performed under local anesthesia.

The surgical intervention is performed with a spear-shaped needle, with which a small puncture is made in the lower segment of the eardrum. The instrument is inserted in one movement over the entire thickness of the membrane.

When performing paracentesis, the doctor must take into account that the wall of the formation sometimes thickens 2-3 times due to damage to the middle section of the ear. After the incision is made, the auditory cavity is filled with a sterile cotton swab, it absorbs the liquid.

Sometimes a shunt is installed at the puncture site; the device helps remove accumulated substances during otitis media, but the wound remains open for some time. But the patient is placed with the inflamed ear on a pillow, this approach improves the outflow of pus.

Surgical intervention

Subtleties of rehabilitation

If the surgical incision is performed correctly, the procedure goes without leaving a trace and does not threaten serious consequences. Therefore, paracentesis is prescribed even to young patients. In the postoperative period, the patient needs to create the most comfortable conditions in order to exclude the development of complications and relapses of the pathology.

The integrity of the eardrum is restored within 3 weeks, after which a characteristic scar forms at the site of the incision; it does not affect the quality of sound perception by the patient.

To speed up the healing process, the auditory tube is cleaned with boric alcohol or Furacilin at least 3 times a day. After which the ear canal is closed with a sterile cotton swab, the cotton pad is changed regularly if necessary, but at least 5 times a day.

For a patient susceptible to relapses of the disease, the doctor develops a special course of therapy to generally strengthen the body’s immunity.

If the operation is performed incorrectly, the following consequences may occur:

If the operation is not performed correctly, hearing may deteriorate.

Partial release of pus, in which part of the fluid remains in the auditory cavity of the inflamed ear and becomes the cause of the development of a chronic form of the disease.
Infection in an open wound is often a catalyst for the onset of meningitis or inflammation of the brain.
Hearing impairment due to the formation of a large scar at the site of the membrane incision.

Prevention methods

To prevent re-inflammation or damage to the middle section of the ear, you must adhere to certain measures:

To prevent re-inflammation, do not overcool the body.

Avoid getting water into the ear - completely avoid swimming in bodies of water until the integrity of the membrane is restored.
Remove the sterile swab from the ear canal only when replacing it.

If these simple rules are not followed, the pathology can recur, and serious complications for human health can additionally develop.

You should not be afraid of paracentesis of the eardrum, especially when this is the only way to quickly remove accumulated fluid, especially at high temperatures. An operation performed by an experienced specialist and further adherence to all rehabilitation rules will help eliminate inflammation and restore hearing to the fullest extent.

There are three layers in the human ear, each of which has its own components and performs different functions. These are the outer, middle and inner ear.

In this article we will dwell in detail on the middle ear, because with otitis media it is most often affected. This section consists of the eardrum and the auditory tube connecting the nasopharynx and ear. This connection, like everything in the body, has its own function - it helps regulate pressure in the ear, because excessive pressure increases lead to rupture or serious damage to tissue.
The middle ear is located approximately at the level of the temple (or, to be more precise, the temporal bone), so inflammation of this section can most often be distinguished from inflammation, for example, of the outer ear, independently.

When inflammation begins in the ear, the body tries to eliminate it by killing foreign bacteria with the help of its functional units. These functional units are called inflammatory cells. They synthesize the necessary substances, dilating blood vessels at the site of inflammation, processing dead cells, increasing the synthesis of collagen and other substances after the inflammation is over.

So, “fighting” with microorganisms that provoked inflammation in the ear, many of these body cells die. Foreign agents also die, and all this collects in the ear, creating a purulent mass.

Pus is a liquid of varying thickness, containing a large number of blood cells, leukocytes, protein, remains of anesthetized (dead, irreparable) tissue, living and dead cells.

The main danger of purulent inflammation of the middle ear is the possibility of the disease spreading to neighboring tissues. With severely advanced otitis media, a cavity filled with pus may form.

If discharge from the ear does not come out, then over time there is a high probability that it will get into the middle ear, and then into the tissues surrounding the brain. It is very difficult to fight inflammation that has spread inside the head, and dangerous diseases such as meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain) can develop.

From this it is easy to understand that purulent masses in the middle ear are a dangerous matter; their presence must be responded to by visiting a doctor and further taking all the necessary medications.

Let's look at why in most cases no one pierces anything inside the ear with otitis media, but does someone need such a procedure?

The fact is that during inflammation, pus usually comes out on its own through the outer ear, making its way through the hole it creates in the eardrum. Such a hole, with proper treatment of otitis media, will quickly heal on its own, without creating any hearing problems in the future. This means that pus from the ear can be safely called a good sign, signaling that the disease is progressing favorably.

It is much worse if the ear hurts, the temperature is elevated, and the discharge is not visible. Then your eardrum does not have a hole for the pus to flow out and this substance remains inside the ear, which, as we have already explained, is very dangerous.

It is in this case that the procedure of piercing the eardrum is necessary. The procedure is performed by a doctor with the level of qualification required for such procedures, most often this is not a surgeon, but an ENT specialist.

Carrying out the procedure

Puncture of the eardrum - this procedure is called Paracentesis.

Before the procedure, local anesthesia is performed using a cotton swab soaked in a solution of the drug. Then a puncture is made in the fibrous tissue that makes up the eardrum. After this, a turunda (cotton or gauze swab) will be placed in the ear, which will quickly absorb the remaining discharge.

The procedure does not last long, but it is quite painful in the first few seconds. The main thing is to be patient for half a minute and the pain will subside on its own, the ear will only ache a little for a while. Most often, a puncture of the eardrum requires observation in a hospital, because with very severe inflammation, pus can leak out for several more days. The ear will need to be treated and its condition regularly monitored. In some more complex, emergency cases, a small tube called a tempanostomy is inserted into the puncture of the eardrum. Tempanostomy acts as a drainage hole through which accumulated pus comes out.

After you are discharged from the hospital, you need to protect your hearing from water, gusts of wind and cold. The puncture must heal completely, otherwise the ear will be defenseless in the fight against infections and other negative external factors. At first, the ear should be protected with a shallowly inserted cotton wool, which will serve as a barrier from dust and cold.

As you can see, puncturing the eardrum is not a pleasant procedure, but if it does happen, it cannot be avoided, because complications that can be caused by pus that gets deeper are often very difficult to cure. Therefore, do not delay visiting a doctor if you suspect ear inflammation - the sooner you do this, the faster the treatment and recovery process will be and the lower the risk of hearing loss.

Many people experience a puncture of the eardrum due to otitis media. It is recommended to diagnose and treat this pathology in a timely manner, as it provokes serious complications. Many patients complain of inflammation in the middle canal and serious hearing problems.

All doctors say that damage to the eardrum that appears due to otitis media must be treated immediately. However, before doing this, you should familiarize yourself with the main reasons for the appearance of this pathology. There are several factors that provoke the appearance of punctures in adults and children:

Otitis. The main cause of the occurrence and development of pathology is considered to be otitis media, accompanied by inflammation in the ears. If the disease is not treated for a long time, mucous fluid with pus will gradually begin to accumulate in the ear cavity. Over time, the accumulated pus presses on the ear membrane, causing the symptoms of the disease to worsen and a ruptured membrane to form.
Increased noise level. Problems with the eardrum arise due to sudden noise. Therefore, it often bursts during loud sounds or explosions.
High ear pressure. Pressure on the hearing organs increases during air travel or when dipping your head under water.
Mechanical injury. Mechanical damage often compromises the integrity of the membrane. It is damaged when the ear is not properly cleaned or other hygiene procedures are not followed.

Symptoms of damage

Mechanical ones are quite difficult to miss, as they are accompanied by pronounced symptoms.

The main signs of a puncture include:

the appearance of pain in the ear cavity, which periodically intensifies;
hearing loss and noise;
discharge of purulent fluid from the ear cavity;
accumulation of sanguineous fluid in the ear canals;
development of infection accompanied by high body temperature.

However, not only the above symptoms worry patients with a damaged membrane. Some of them suffer from severe dizziness and improper functioning of the vestibular system. If the tympanic membrane is severely damaged, air is released from the ear cavity.

When the first signs of pathology appear, treatment must be started immediately to prevent deterioration of well-being and the development of complications.

Diagnosis

Before you begin to eliminate paracentesis of the eardrum, you should diagnose the pathology.

To establish a diagnosis, they seek help from an otolaryngologist, who must independently take an anamnesis and interview the patient to record other diseases of the nose or ear. After this, a visual inspection of the damaged organ is carried out to assess its condition. During examination, pay attention to the size of the lymph nodes, swelling and the presence of scars.

If the above methods are not enough to confirm the diagnosis, an additional otoscopy is performed. With this test, the ear canal and eardrum are carefully examined. The procedure is carried out using an otoscope, a special funnel or a reflector.

Additional diagnostic tests also include:

study of exudate for bacteriology and general blood test;
computed tomography, which determines the degree of damage to the ear cavity;
audiometry, which helps determine the severity and degree of hearing impairment.

Treatment methods

Sometimes, nothing needs to be done to heal the membrane of the membrane, as it repairs itself. This process lasts about 7-10 days, if the puncture is not accompanied by complications. However, sometimes the lesions do not heal without additional treatment. There are three main methods for getting rid of membrane perforation.

Medicinal healing of the membrane

Among all treatment methods, drug removal of a puncture is popular. Medications speed up the process of membrane restoration several times. The most effective medications include the following:

"Anauran." The drug is available in the form of ear drops, which have an anesthetic and antibacterial effect. The product is made from lidocaine hydrochloride, which has a positive effect on the healing process of the puncture.
"Otipax". The medicine has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and is therefore used for exacerbation of otitis media. To restore the membrane, it is enough to bury the ear canals 3-4 times every day.
"Otofa." The drops are made from rifampicin, which is considered a powerful antibiotic that helps treat ear infections. When treating adults, at least five drops are instilled into each ear at a time. For children, the dosage is reduced to three drops.

Surgical solution to the problem

Sometimes the use of medications does not help get rid of the puncture and you have to use a more radical method - surgical treatment of the pathology using myringoplasty. This procedure is absolutely painless as it is performed under general anesthesia.

During the operation, the surgeon carefully cuts the skin above the ear to separate a small piece of it and stitch it to the damaged area of the membrane. Special self-absorbing threads are used for stitching.

If the operation was successful, the patient will have a positive prognosis. However, in order to recover faster, you need to become familiar with the features of the rehabilitation period after surgery. For a month after the procedure, the patient will have to follow basic hygiene rules and properly care for the ear. In the first days after discharge from the hospital, turundas are placed in the ear canals, which are replaced every 5-6 hours.

For about three weeks, the patient will have to sleep in such a way that the sore ear is located below. This will prevent pus from remaining in the ear cavity.

ethnoscience

Some people eliminate damage to the membrane using traditional medicine. Before using this method of treatment, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic means of therapy.

To restore the membrane, it is recommended to use drops made from citrus or rose hips. Such drops are instilled into the ears 2-3 times a day. Also, to treat pathology, they use products prepared from pine needles or plantain.

Possible complications

If the pathology is not completely cured, the patient may develop serious complications. Among the consequences that often occur in patients are:

Accumulation of pus. After the tympanic membrane is punctured, thick purulent fluid begins to flow from the ear canals. Sometimes, after the wound heals, pus remains in the ear, and this leads to an exacerbation of symptoms. If the ear cavity is not cleared of purulent accumulations in a timely manner, the disease will become chronic.
Development of infection. When treating pathology surgically, hygiene rules are sometimes not followed, and this leads to wound infection. It is recommended to get rid of the infection in advance, as it can spread to the brain.
Hearing problems. Damage to the membrane can be accompanied by disruption of the auditory ossicles, which leads to hearing impairment.

Prevention

To avoid puncture of the tympanic membrane, it is recommended to adhere to certain prevention rules. These include:

Careful cleaning of the ear canals. When cleaning your ears, do not use sharp objects that can cause harm.
Timely treatment. When the first signs of hearing problems appear, you should immediately visit a specialist to prescribe treatment.
Use of protective equipment. It is recommended that you use ear protection when you are in a noisy environment or when flying on an airplane.

Conclusion

Damage to the eardrum is considered a serious problem that can negatively affect a person's hearing. To restore the ear cavity, you need to familiarize yourself with the main treatment methods and the features of their use.