Ruptured eardrum

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Ear anatomy

Mastoiditis - side view of head

Medical findings based on ear anatomy

Tympanic membrane perforation; Eardrum - ruptured or perforated; Perforated eardrum

The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and prevent or treat infection.

Putting warmth on the ear may help relieve discomfort. Keep the ear clean and dry while it is healing. Place cotton balls in the ear while showering or shampooing to prevent water from entering the ear. Avoid swimming or putting your head underneath the water.

Antibiotics (oral or ear drops) may be used to prevent infection or to treat an infection you already have. Painkillers (analgesics), including over-the-counter medications, may be used to relieve pain.

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Sometimes the health care provider may place a patch over the eardrum to speed healing. Surgical repair of the eardrum (tympanoplasty) may be needed if the eardrum does not heal on its own.

The opening in the eardrum usually heals by itself within 2 months. Any hearing loss is most often short-term.

• Ear infection (otitis media) (the eardrum prevents bacteria from entering the middle ear)
• Long-term hearing loss
• Spread of infection to the bone behind the ear (mastoiditis)
• Vertigo

Call your health care provider if you:

• Have symptoms of a ruptured eardrum
• Have drainage from the ear, fever, a general ill feeling, or hearing loss that do not improve or that return after being treated
• Have any symptoms that last longer than 2 months after treatment

Review Date: 04/15/2011
Reviewed By: Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).