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Hearing restoration operations are prescribed for patients who are diagnosed with hearing loss (complete loss of functionality of the hearing organs). In some cases, the problem can be solved with drug therapy, but there are situations when hearing can only be restored through surgery.
Causes of impaired functionality of the hearing organs
Complete or partial hearing loss can develop for the following reasons: birth trauma (mechanical damage during childbirth or prolonged oxygen starvation of the child); use by a woman during pregnancy of drugs, alcohol, loop diuretics, gentamicin or streptomycin; transferred acute infectious diseases during pregnancy of a woman or a child at an early age (measles, influenza, mumps, toxoplasmosis, rubella); the presence of malignant or benign tumors; anatomical anomaly of the hearing organs; broken neural connections; the presence of a foreign body in the ear canal; exposure to loud noise; head injury; age-related changes in the hearing organs; acoustic trauma; inflammatory processes of a chronic type in the middle ear; otosclerosis; acoustic neuroma; Mobius syndrome; Meniere’s disease; the birth of a child weighing less than 1,5 kilograms; hereditary predisposition; during pregnancy, the woman had severe hypertension.
Hearing restoration operations
In most cases, when deafness is diagnosed, it is surgical intervention that can help completely get rid of the disease. The tactics of surgical intervention is determined by the doctor on the basis of a comprehensive examination and determination of the cause of hearing loss.
Recently, such surgical intervention as tympanoplasty has been widely used. Tympanoplasty is the restoration of individual ear elements. To restore the integrity of the tympanic membrane, the patient’s tissues are used, it is this approach that facilitates the process of engraftment of tissues after surgery.
Cochlear implantation is often used when it is necessary to restore hearing to children in the presence of neurosensory type pathology. The essence of the operation is the attachment of special electrodes to the auditory nerve. Electrodes allow you to convert sound signals and transmit them to the cerebral cortex.
Stapedoplasty is a surgical method for the treatment of otosclerosis, which involves the process of restoring the bones of the hearing aid. During surgical manipulations, the doctor reconstructs the damaged elements of the hearing organs through the introduction of artificial implants. There are two types of procedures: full and partial. Recently, piston technology has been actively used, which involves the installation of biocompatible implants. For the production of the stirrup, titanium coated with the patient’s tissues is usually used. It is this approach that reduces the risk of implant rejection.
Indications and contraindications for hearing restoration surgery
Among the indications for surgical intervention, it is worth noting:
- tympanosclerosis;
- perforation of the tympanic membrane without the presence of an inflammatory process;
- perforation of the tympanic membrane with displacement of the auditory ossicles;
- cholesteatoma;
- mesotympanitis and epitympanitis;
- adhesive otitis media;
- purulent inflammatory process of chronic type.
Among the absolute contraindications to the operation, it is worth noting: the presence of adhesions, scars or congenital anomalies in the auditory tubes; adhesive otitis media; complete deafness; sepsis and purulent complications; exacerbated diseases of a chronic type; severe general condition; heat.
Among the relative contraindications to the operation are: the presence of an acute inflammatory process in the middle ear; exacerbated allergic diseases; inflammatory or infectious diseases of the nasopharynx; temporary (functional) obstruction of the auditory canals; epidermization of the tympanic cavity.
Preparing for Hearing Restoration Surgery
First, the ENT doctor conducts a complete examination of the patient in order to exclude infectious or inflammatory diseases in the middle ear area. After a visual examination, the doctor prescribes a series of tests (OAM, OAC, blood biochemistry, a blood test for the Wasserman reaction) and additional studies (computed tomography, audiometry, MRI) to the patient.
After receiving all the results, the doctor determines the type and method of surgical intervention, selects medication and writes recommendations. A week before surgery, you need to stop any drug treatment with drugs that thin the blood or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory type (paracetamol, aspirin).
Rehabilitation and possible complications
After the operation, the patient is under the supervision of doctors in a hospital from several hours to several days. It may take several weeks (up to a month) for complete recovery of hearing. The recovery period after surgery on the eardrum must be taken as responsibly as possible. It is strictly forbidden to fly on airplanes (approximately two months). Gently sneeze, cough and blow your nose. It is worth protecting the ear from liquid getting into it, since water that has got into it can provoke the development of chronic otitis media. Under the ban are also any physical activity and weight lifting (at least three months).
Sometimes after the operation, if the rules of the recovery period are not followed or due to the low qualification of the doctor, the following complications may occur: violation of the bones and nerves of the inner ear; lack of hearing recovery after surgery; infection; development of complex inflammatory and purulent diseases. Complications are extremely rare. It is important to see a doctor as soon as you notice discomfort in the ear area. Timely access to a qualified doctor will increase the percentage of a positive outcome of the operation.