Ear surgery restores hearing and treats chronic ear disease using precision microsurgical techniques. At Central Sydney ENT, our FRACS-qualified surgeons perform the full range of ear procedures, from grommet insertion for children with glue ear through to complex middle ear reconstruction, across seven Sydney locations.
Myringotomy is a brief procedure in which a small incision is made in the eardrum to drain trapped fluid from the middle ear. A tiny ventilation tube, known as a grommet, is then placed in the incision to keep the middle ear aerated and prevent fluid from accumulating again. Grommets are one of the most commonly performed paediatric procedures and are used to treat persistent glue ear (otitis media with effusion), recurrent acute ear infections, and eustachian tube dysfunction. The procedure takes approximately ten minutes under a brief general anaesthetic, and most children go home the same day with immediate improvement in hearing.
Tympanoplasty repairs a perforation (hole) in the eardrum. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia using an operating microscope. A tissue graft, usually taken from the temporalis fascia behind the ear or cartilage from the tragus, is carefully placed beneath the eardrum to close the perforation. Successful repair restores the eardrum's ability to vibrate and transmit sound, improving hearing and protecting the middle ear from water ingress and infection. The success rate for tympanoplasty is approximately 85 to 95 per cent in experienced hands.
Mastoidectomy removes infected or diseased bone from the mastoid: the honeycomb-like bone directly behind the ear. It is most commonly performed to treat cholesteatoma (an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear that erodes bone), chronic mastoiditis, and complications of chronic ear infections. The procedure is performed through an incision behind the ear under general anaesthesia. Depending on the extent of disease, a cortical mastoidectomy (preserving the ear canal wall) or a modified radical mastoidectomy (removing the canal wall) may be required. Post-operative follow-up includes regular ear toileting and monitoring for recurrence.
Stapedectomy is the surgical treatment for otosclerosis, a condition in which abnormal bone growth fixes the stapes (stirrup bone) in place, preventing it from vibrating and causing progressive conductive hearing loss. The surgeon removes all or part of the fixed stapes and replaces it with a tiny prosthesis, typically a Teflon piston or titanium prosthesis, which restores sound transmission from the eardrum to the inner ear. Stapedectomy has a high success rate, with most patients experiencing significant hearing improvement within weeks of surgery.
Ossiculoplasty reconstructs the ossicular chain: the three tiny bones (malleus, incus and stapes) that conduct sound through the middle ear. Damage from chronic infection, cholesteatoma or trauma can disrupt this chain and cause conductive hearing loss. The surgeon rebuilds the chain using the patient's own reshaped bone, cartilage or a titanium prosthesis (TORP or PORP) to restore sound conduction. Ossiculoplasty is frequently performed as part of tympanoplasty or cholesteatoma surgery.
Your ENT surgeon may recommend surgery if you have:
Ear surgery at Central Sydney ENT is performed by a FRACS-qualified ENT surgeon with fellowship training in otology and middle ear surgery:
We operate at accredited hospitals across seven Sydney locations, Burwood, Campbelltown, Gregory Hills, Ultimo, Drummoyne, Hunters Hill and Miranda, providing specialist ear care close to home.
Ear surgery is commonly performed for the following conditions treated at Central Sydney ENT:
Ask your GP for a referral to Central Sydney ENT, or call our reception team directly.
Call (02) 9747 3199