What is myringoplasty?

Myringoplasty specifically refers to the surgical procedure intended to repair a perforated tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. This procedure is performed to restore the integrity of the eardrum, which can be compromised due to infection, trauma, or other causes. When successful, myringoplasty can help improve hearing and prevent further complications, such as recurrent ear infections.

The other procedures mentioned involve different aspects of ear anatomy and function. For example, excision of the outer ear would involve removing parts of the external ear structure, fixation of the auditory ossicles pertains to stabilizing the tiny bones in the middle ear, and surgical removal of the ear canal would involve a much more invasive approach that is unrelated to repairing the tympanic membrane. Each of these alternatives focuses on different elements of ear anatomy and pathology, making myringoplasty distinctly focused on the restoration of the eardrum itself.