What is tympanoplasty?

Tympanoplasty is an operation to- (i) eradicate disease in the middle ear and (ii) to reconstruct hearing mechanism. It may be combined with mastoidectomy if disease process so demands. Type of middle ear reconstruction depends on the damage present in the ear. The procedure may be limited only to repair of tympanic membrane (myringoplasty), or to reconstruction of ossicular chain (ossiculoplasty), or both (tympanoplasty). Reconstructive surgery of the ear has been greatly facilitated by development of operating microscope, microsurgical instruments and biocompatible implant materials. Re: Textbook of Ear, Nose and Throat, Dhingra, 6th Edition, page 29.