Signs of Infection After Tympanoplasty
Tympanoplasty is a surgical repair of a damaged or ruptured eardrum. People with a hole in their eardrum can also consider this invasive procedure to improve their hearing ability. An ENT surgeon in Navi Mumbai initially prescribes medication to patch the hole.
If the eardrum ruptures due to frequent infections, antibiotics can help. If they don’t work, surgery is the last resort. However, tympanoplasty can lead to serious complications if the incision site doesn’t heal properly. Here are the signs to watch out for.
Common Symptoms of Infection
Drainage, swelling, redness, and discomfort after tympanoplasty are normal. You can use cotton to clean the area and keep it dry. Here’s what’s not normal and should be reported to your doctor.
a) Persistent Pain:
It’s not uncommon to feel pain in the surgical site, especially when moving your jaw. However, pain that persists longer than a few weeks or gets more intense with time might indicate an infection.
b) Redness and Swelling:
Swelling and redness around the incision site are also normal as long as they don’t spread or intensify. If the area seems extremely swollen or red, and the symptoms are accompanied by severe pain that won’t improve, it might be because of a post-surgical complication, most likely an infection.
c) Discharge from Ear:
As mentioned above, expect some discharge for 3-5 days after surgery. Thin, watery, and slightly blood-tinged discharge aren’t a cause for concern. If you notice yellow or greenish discharge with a foul order, report it to your surgeon immediately.
When to Seek Medical Attention
i) High Fever:
Another sign of infection after tympanoplasty is a high-grade fever above 101°F. Your body might develop a fever as a normal response to the surgery. It can be part of your healing process, but if the fever occurs with unusual discharge, extreme pain, and swelling, it can be a sign of infection.
ii) Severe Headache or Dizziness:
If the infection spreads beyond your middle ear after surgery, it can cause extreme headache and dizziness. These signs are never considered normal.
iii) Hearing Loss:
Tympanoplasty surgery in Navi Mumbai rarely leads to complete hearing loss, but it’s a possible complication. If you notice a sudden change in your hearing ability that doesn’t improve over time, see your surgeon immediately.
Preventive Measures
To prevent the risk of infection after surgery, here’s what you can do.
1) Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions:
Your doctor will give you detailed instructions for post-surgical care. You must avoid heavy lifting, blowing your nose, swimming, and flying until your doctor gives you a green light for these activities.
2) Keep it Clean:
You can use a sterile cotton ball to clean the ear and keep the incision site dry. It’s not a problem if the outer ear or the incision gets wet during a bath. But the inner ear should be dry.
3) Avoid Inserting Objects into Ears:
Do not insert earbuds or any object for cleaning unless prescribed by your doctor.
Conclusion
Tympanoplasty surgery is a safe and effective procedure, but like any surgical treatment, it comes with its share of risks. Identifying the post-surgical complications is crucial to protecting the incision site from infection.
