Ear

Pediatric tympanoplasty is a procedure performed to repair a perforated eardrum in a child’s ear. An eardrum perforation is simply a hole in the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The eardrum is a thin membrane deep in our ear canal. This membrane vibrates when sound waves hit it and helps transfer sound energy into the inner ear which allows us to hear. A hole in the eardrum can come from a bad ear infection, a surgical procedure like placement of an ear tube, or from trauma such as a Q-tip® jabbed deep inside the ear canal (one of many reasons to avoid using any cotton swab to clean your ears!) Tympanoplasty surgery is a common way to repair the perforation, if necessary.

Mandibular distraction is a method used to increase the length of the jaw bone. It requires a surgical procedure to attach the distractors, one one each side of the jaw bone. The process of distraction occurs after surgery and usually takes between 10 and 14 days.

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We know you may want to dig for more information, so we gathered these easy-to-digest materials and resources from pediatric organizations in Minnesota and beyond.

The ear, nose and throat (ENT) and facial plastic surgery team at Children’s Minnesota is nationally recognized for their leadership in developing and providing pediatric treatments. And Children’s Minnesota is the only hospital in the state of Minnesota offering 24/7 access to pediatric ENT specialists. That’s reassuring for families who need an ENT doctor for their child after regular office hours. We invite you to meet our team of providers.

Choosing where to bring your child for care is a major decision. We understand you want all the information you can get. And you want it in a clear, straightforward form that helps you make the right choice for your family.