We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Possible Side Effects from a Tympanomastoidectomy?

By Jillian O Keeffe
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 14,309
Share

A tympanomastoidectomy involves removing a benign growth or infected bone from inside the ear. The possible side effects from the surgery include infection, deafness, brain injury, and stroke. In severe cases even death can result. The operation may also cause paralysis, loss of taste or dizziness, and these side effects can be temporary or permanent. The procedure is also known as a radical mastoidectomy.

There are two reasons a tympanomastoidectomy is warranted. Cholesteatoma is a condition in which skin cells in the middle ear behind the ear drum grow abnormally. These growths are not malignant cancers, but they can affect the function of the ear. The skin can grow into internal bones or into the brain. The potential dangers of cholesteatoma, if left untreated, include dizziness, meningitis, chronic ear infections, and loss of hearing, even to the point of deafness.

The other major reason a doctor may perform a tympanomastoidectomy is if a patient has chronic eardrum perforations that have not been repaired properly or if there is fluid draining from a perforated eardrum and the internal bone has become infected. For patients with these issues, removing the infected bone allows the ear to heal correctly. The tympanomastoidectomy can also improve the hearing and function of the ear.

A patient is placed under general anesthesia, and this anesthesia carries a small risk of death. The surgeon then makes an incision behind the ear in order to work on the inside of the ear. He or she removes the affected bone or skin growths and packs the cavity. Then, the incision is stitched up, and the wound is covered with sterile material. The operation carries a risk of infection either in the ear itself or in the incision.

The surgery may also affect the nervous system. A potential side effect is paralysis on the side of the body where the operation was performed. This paralysis can affect all of that side of the body or just the facial muscles. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent. Nerve damage may also result in numbness in the side of the tongue, a change in taste perception, numbness behind the ear, or a dry mouth.

The operation also carries a risk of damage to a major artery, which could cause a stroke and even death. The brain could be affected, causing fluid to leak and potentially resulting in brain damage, an abscess, or meningitis. A patient may also have temporary or permanent hearing loss after the surgery, which may or may not be reversible by a second operation. The operation may not cure the cholesteatoma fully, and the condition could recur. The eardrum could also become perforated again, and the ear infections can return.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-possible-side-effects-from-a-tympanomastoidectomy.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.