There are many different surgical techniques to repair a perforation (hole) in the eardrum. The technique is tailored to the patient and to the size and position of the perforation.

Surgical approaches to repairing the eardrum include:
Transcanal endoscopic or microscopic (keyhole surgery with no incision visible on or behind the ear

Postauricular via a small incision behind the ear

Materials used to graft the eardrum include; fascia (muscle lining), cartilage or synthetic alternatives.

If the small bones of hearing (ossicles) in the middle ear are absent or not functioning properly, then a hearing reconstruction (ossiculoplasty) can be performed at the same time as eardrum repair or later as a staged procedure.