Chronic Otitis Media

Patients with chronic otitis media often complain of hearing loss and aural discharge. Hearing loss may be simply due to tympanic membrane perforation or due to fixation or disruption of the ossicles. The tympanic membrane perforation may involve a small part or the whole tympanic membrane. If there is no annulus, these perforations are called marginal perforations. The presence of cholesteatoma necessitates surgical treatment. The aim of surgery is to eradicate infection and to create a functioning middle ear space with restoration of hearing.