Your child will need to rest as the ear heals from surgery, but can return to most activities after several weeks.

Tympanoplasty is an operation to repair the eardrum and middle ear. When working properly, the eardrum and bones of the middle ear (called the ossicles) help to carry sound to the brain. But a hole in the eardrum or problem with the ossicles can interfere with hearing or may cause pain. In a tympanoplasty, the surgeon patches a damaged eardrum and also may repair the ossicles in order to restore hearing, prevent repeat infections, or treat pain.

Some vomiting in the first hours after the surgery is normal. Also, the surgery may temporarily affect your child's sense of hearing, balance and taste. Bloody drainage from the ear is to be expected for the first few days.

• If prescribed by your health care provider, give your child pain medications and antibiotics as directed.
• You can put a clean cotton ball in the opening of your child's ear to absorb drainage. Don't remove any packing that was placed deeper inside the ear canal.
• If there is an incision near the ear, keep it completely dry for the first 5 days. After 5 days, you may clean it with warm, soapy water and apply antibiotic ointment twice a day.
• Keep the ear canal dry at all times. Before your child bathes or showers, put petroleum jelly on a cotton ball and place it in the opening of the ear.
• Remind your child to avoid nose blowing for 2 weeks.

• Make an appointment for a follow-up ear exam as directed by the health care provider.
• Your child can return to school when the pain is gone and your child is eating and sleeping well. This might be the first day, but often takes 3–5 days.
• Your child should avoid activities that require balance (like bike riding and roller-skating) or that might increase the pressure in the ears (like airplane trips, strenuous activities, contact sports, bending over).
• Avoid swimming and wetting the ears.
• No diving.
• Your health care provider will let you know when your child can go back to these activities.

Your child:

• Is vomiting often or after the first day.
• Develops a fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C).
• Has ear pain that is not improving with pain medication.
• Has more than a few drops of blood coming from the ear canal or incision.
• Experiences spinning sensations more than a few days after surgery.
• Has any signs of infection around the incision.

Your child:

• Is unusually sleepy or has trouble waking up.
• Is dizzy and cannot walk.
• Has weakness in the face.