Ear surgery
Ear surgery at your
ENT specialist practice, Prim. Univ. Prof. Dr. Peter Franz in Vienna
Ear surgery plays an important role in the treatment of hearing disorders, chronic middle ear infections, or congenital abnormalities. At my ENT practice in Vienna, I use modern surgical techniques to improve hearing, provide lasting relief from symptoms, and enhance the quality of life of my patients.
Middle ear and lateral skull base
- Paracentesis/tympanostomy (ear tubes)
- Ear tube surgery, also known as tympanostomy, is a procedure in which a small tube is inserted into the eardrum to improve ventilation of the middle ear and treat tympanic effusion. The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia in children and under local anesthesia in adults.
- Stapes surgery (stirrup surgery)
- Stapes surgery is a procedure performed to improve sound conduction in the middle ear in cases of otosclerosis. Otosclerosis causes the stapes, the smallest ossicle, to stiffen, preventing normal sound transmission. In stapes surgery, the stiffened stapes is replaced with a prosthesis to restore hearing.
- Surgery for vertigo (tenotomy, saccotomy)
- Surgery for vertigo is only necessary in rare cases. Conservative methods such as physiotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication are usually used first. Surgical intervention is mainly considered in severe, therapy-resistant cases, especially in Meniere's disease or certain forms of positional vertigo.
- Tympanoplasty (hearing improvement surgery):
A tympanoplasty is an ear surgery in which a hole in the eardrum is closed and/or the ossicular chain is restored to improve hearing.
Reasons for a tympanoplasty:
Eardrum perforation: : A hole in the eardrum can be caused by injury, inflammation, or chronic middle ear infections.
Damage to the ossicular chain: The ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes) can be damaged or broken due to inflammation or injury.
- Partially implantable hearing aids
- Implantable hearing aids are electronic devices used for hearing loss that are either partially or completely implanted in the body. They can be an alternative to conventional hearing aids, especially if these do not provide sufficient help or if there are certain indications, such as chronic ear canal inflammation or anatomical peculiarities.
Outer ear
Procedures for:
- Apostasis (protruding ears)
- Protruding ears, often referred to as bat ears, are an anatomical variation in which the auricles protrude more than 30 degrees from the head or the distance between the edge of the ear and the head is more than 20 mm. This ear malformation is usually congenital and can lead to aesthetic discomfort. Surgical ear correction, also known as otopexy, can pin back the ears and restore a harmonious appearance.
Injuries to the auricle
Tumors of the auricle
Surgery for ear canal exostoses
- An ear canal exostosis is a benign bony growth in the external ear canal, often referred to as “surfer's ear” because it frequently occurs in water sports enthusiasts. These bone growths can narrow the ear canal and lead to problems such as blocked ears, inflammation, and hearing loss.
