A Beginners Guide to Approaching a Patient with a Perforated Tympanic Membrane

Abstract

Perforations of the tympanic membrane are among the most everyday presentations to an otolaryngologist. Whilst many heal without treatment, there are some which need surgical closure. There have been so many ways to do this, and overall can be bewildering to a young Otologist. The article summarizes the most pertinent do’s and don’t’s to achieve a good result and how to maintain that over the years. The article is the result of many years work of by the author, a busy practising otologist for the last three decades.