Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Consequences Of Not Repairing Hole In Eardrum?
Posted on
Fri, 29 Aug 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 29 Aug 2014
Answered on
Tue, 16 Sep 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : Had to have steroid injections in ear back in XXXXXXX Fluid behind the ear, awful dizziness. It is now almost September and hole in eardrum from injections is not completely healed due to scabbing. ENT says to come back in 2 months to check it again. If not healed then, he said I will need surgery to repair. FYI I am Type 1 diabetic with A1C of 6.7. And I do have some hearing loss but not too much. Is surgery necessary? What are the consequences of not repairing? Not scared of the surgery. Just wondering if is really necessary.
Brief Answer:
It is doesn't heal in 2 months ,surgery is needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.
You suffered a complication from Intratympanic steroid treatment which consist in a perforated ear drum.
In this case there is a hole in the ear drum and the middle ear is exposed to external factors.
Usually the ear drum heals by itself for some months.If it doesn't heal it may require surgery to close the hole in ear drum.
For this reason your doctor has given it some times to heal.If it doesn't heal you need surgery.
The reconstruction of ear drum through surgery (if it doesn't heal by itself) is necessary because left untreated it can cause serious infection of middle ear leading to permanent damage of hearing nerve.The fact that you are diabetic,complicates things because you are prone to infections.
This happen because all structures of middle ear are exposed to infection and trauma due to perforated ear drum.
So ,if the ear drum doesn't heal in 2 months ,it is necessary that you undergo a surgery to repair the defect.
Hope it was of help.
Let me know if you have further questions or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.
Kind Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati
It is doesn't heal in 2 months ,surgery is needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.
You suffered a complication from Intratympanic steroid treatment which consist in a perforated ear drum.
In this case there is a hole in the ear drum and the middle ear is exposed to external factors.
Usually the ear drum heals by itself for some months.If it doesn't heal it may require surgery to close the hole in ear drum.
For this reason your doctor has given it some times to heal.If it doesn't heal you need surgery.
The reconstruction of ear drum through surgery (if it doesn't heal by itself) is necessary because left untreated it can cause serious infection of middle ear leading to permanent damage of hearing nerve.The fact that you are diabetic,complicates things because you are prone to infections.
This happen because all structures of middle ear are exposed to infection and trauma due to perforated ear drum.
So ,if the ear drum doesn't heal in 2 months ,it is necessary that you undergo a surgery to repair the defect.
Hope it was of help.
Let me know if you have further questions or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.
Kind Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
