Ear Discharge and Hearing Loss Caused by Chronic Otitis Media—65-Year-Old Woman Improves After Endoscopic Surgery

TAIPEI (Central News Agency) reporter Zhang Rongxiang, Tainan, June 11. A 65-year-old woman surnamed Zhang, who had a ruptured eardrum since childhood that never healed, experienced recurrent ear discharge and odor for years, along with gradual hearing loss in one ear. After seeking medical attention, she was diagnosed with chronic otitis media and underwent endoscopic tympanoplasty surgery, which led to improvement.

Dr. Huang Yiting, an otolaryngologist at the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Tainan Hospital, stated today that the woman suffered from chronic otitis media, which had been troubling her daily life. After undergoing endoscopic tympanoplasty, her recovery was good; inflammation and pus discharge ceased, and her hearing remained stable.

Dr. Huang explained that chronic otitis media refers to persistent inflammation of the middle ear cavity for more than three months, often accompanied by a perforated eardrum. Common symptoms include ear discharge and gradual hearing loss. Patients with suppurative otitis media are prone to acute inflammation and discharge when they catch a cold, experience a drop in immunity, or get water in their ears. Long-term inflammation can damage or adhere the ossicles, affecting sound conduction. In severe cases, it can affect the inner ear, causing chronic vertigo and sensorineural hearing loss.

Dr. Huang pointed out that another type of chronic otitis media is cholesteatoma (commonly known as a pearl tumor), which is often related to poor eustachian tube function, leading to eardrum retraction and the accumulation of epithelial tissue forming a lesion. Cholesteatoma gradually erodes the ossicles and surrounding temporal bone structures, causing hearing loss. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as facial nerve paralysis, vertigo, and intracranial infection.

Dr. Huang stated that in the early stages of suppurative otitis media, conservative treatment such as antibiotic ear drops and local treatment can be used to control the infection. If medication is ineffective or if cholesteatoma is present, surgical treatment is recommended to remove the lesion, reconstruct the ossicles, and repair the eardrum to prevent further hearing deterioration and complications.

Dr. Huang noted that traditional surgery involves an incision behind the ear, requires shaving the head, results in a wound over 5 centimeters, and requires head bandaging post-surgery, with a longer hospital stay and recovery time. In recent years, endoscopic ear surgery has become more common, offering advantages such as smaller wounds, shorter surgery time, and faster recovery. However, this surgery has limitations and is not suitable for cholesteatoma extending to the mastoid process or for patients with excessively narrow ear canals. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150611