Our ear, nose, & throat specialists include experts in ear surgeries used to treat a variety of conditions and injuries. Together, this group of experts provides excellent care for patients struggling with ear issues.

Hearing that you might need surgery to repair an ear injury, manage or treat conditions, or even improve hearing loss can be a little scary. If you think you are a candidate for ear surgery, you have a choice. Our North Carolina ENT specialists are experts in delivering safe, effective surgical solutions with compassion and patient-centered care.

About Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctors

ENT doctors are also known as otolaryngologists. They perform surgeries to treat ear, nose, throat, and head and neck conditions and injuries. You might be referred to an ENT by your primary physician if they believe you need a specialist.

ENTs treat all associated conditions in this area of the body, including many related to the ears:

• Chronic ear infections
• Impacted ear wax
• Tinnitus
• Hearing loss
• Ruptured eardrum
• Inner ear conditions
• Ear pain
• Ear tumors
• Ear bone fractures
• Eustachian tube dysfunction

Ear Surgeries and What They Treat

NCSH ear specialists are qualified to perform several surgeries to repair injuries and manage and cure conditions. A surgeon will discuss your options and explain what to expect if you need to undergo one of these procedures.

• Bone Conduction Implant Placement. Also known as an osseointegrated bone-conducting hearing prosthesis, this implant is surgically placed to treat conductive or mixed hearing loss as a result of chronic draining or congenital abnormalities.
• Canalith Repositioning. Also known as the Epley maneuver, this surgery treats vertigo caused by calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear.
• Cochlear Implant Surgery. A cochlear implant is an electronic device implanted in the ear to treat severe hearing loss. The implant works by bypassing damaged cells in the ear to stimulate the auditory nerve and send signals to the brain.
• Cosmetic Ear Surgery. ENTs can fix several cosmetic issues with ears, most commonly moving prominent ears closer to the head.
• Ear Reconstruction. For people born without certain parts of the ear, surgical reconstruction can help. Surgeons can reconstruct the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear bones of the ossicular chain.
• Labyrinthectomy. This procedure treats vertigo, dizziness caused by Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s is a disease characterized by fluid buildup in the inner ear. It destroys the inner ear, which results in loss of hearing and balance, so this procedure is used only for severe disease.
• Mastoidectomy. A mastoidectomy procedure removes cells from the mastoid bone that have become diseased. It treats chronic or severe ear infections and cholesteatoma, a noncancerous growth behind the eardrum.
• Myringotomy. Most often used in children, this procedure treats otitis media, inflammation in the middle ear, when antibiotics don’t provide relief. It involves using a small tube to drain fluid from the middle ear.
• Stapedectomy/Stapedotomy. These procedures remove a bone called the stapes and replace it with a prosthetic bone. They treat otosclerosis, an inherited condition that causes the stapes bone to become fixed, resulting in hearing loss.
• Tumor Removal. The ear can develop both cancerous and nonmalignant tumors that need to be excised. These include skin cancers in the ear canal or benign acoustic neuromas that cause tinnitus or hearing loss.
• Tympanoplasty. This is a procedure that repairs a damaged ear drum. Tears or ruptures that do not heal on their own can affect hearing and require surgery. Tympanoplasty might be performed along with procedures to repair small ear bones called ossicles. These three bones help amplify sound and are also important for hearing. A tympanoplasty may also be performed with a mastoidectomy.

If you need ear surgery, you are in good hands with an NCSH surgeon. They will explain the procedure, what to expect, and how to prepare. They will also give you detailed instructions for recovery and answer any questions you have before going through with the surgery.

Why Choose NCSH for Ear Surgery?

There are many great reasons to work with our North Carolina ear, nose, & throat specialists if you need surgery. Conveniently located in Durham, we reach a wide area in the state, making it easier for you to get the expert care you need.

Compared to a general hospital, NCSH offers specialized care only. Patients benefit from the many years of experience gathered in one place. Specialists collaborate and learn from one another while also sharing access to the latest surgical technologies.

We are a physician-owned medical center, which allows our ENTs to make decisions that are best for their patients. We are able to maintain a four-to-one patient-to-nurse ratio to ensure you get personal care for your short stay here.
When you’re ready to finally get a solution for your ear and hearing problems, make an appointment with an NCSH ENT surgeon. Contact us today to learn more and to find out how we can help.