Myringotomy Cost and Myringotomy Financing

Although they can be very uncomfortable, ear infections are common, with about 5 out of 6 children experiencing one by the time they're 3 years old.¹ While most cases can be treated quickly with antibiotics, sometimes the infection is stubborn and comes back again and again. Persistent ear infections can cause hearing loss and delay speech development in children, so it's a condition you shouldn't take lightly.²

The good news is that a simple procedure can help fix this problem, and it's available for both children and adults.³ Called a myringotomy, this 15- to 20-minute surgery is common and can help you start feeling better right away.²

What Is a Myringotomy?

A myringotomy is a procedure used to quickly reduce the fluid collected in your ear — whether it's blood, pus or water — helping alleviate your symptoms right away.²

A myringotomy can address the following issues:²

• Acute ear infections in adults. A myringotomy alleviates severe pain and pressure. For non-chronic cases, tubes are usually not inserted.³
• Antibiotic-resistant ear infection. For ear infections that do not resolve with antibiotics, a myringotomy can help drain fluid from the middle ear.⁴
• Chronic ear infections. A myringotomy can help prevent fluid buildup behind the eardrum.
• Chronic fluid buildup in children. It treats the persistent fluid accumulation that may cause hearing loss and delayed speech if not treated.
• Fluid sample collection. The procedure enables ear fluid collection to identify an infection.
• Painful fluid buildup. The procedure quickly relieves painful fluid accumulation in the ear. If it's not a chronic condition, this won't include tube insertion.³

Myringotomy vs. tympanostomy

Most myringotomies also include inserting tubes into the ears to help the drainage continue.³ When this is done, the procedure is sometimes called a tympanostomy.³ Some providers don't differentiate between the two and refer to both procedures as a myringotomy.⁴

When performing a myringotomy with tube insertion, doctors can choose between short-term or long-term tubes. Short-term tubes last eight to 15 months, while long-term tubes last 15 to 18 months. Both kinds typically fall out on their own.⁴

How Much Does a Myringotomy Cost?

Even though a myringotomy is a quick procedure, it can still be expensive. One factor affecting the cost is whether you have the procedure in an office or a hospital.

The national average cost* for an in-office myringotomy (without tube placement) in the United States is $870, but the cost ranges between $667 and $1,616. If you're having a tympanostomy, which involves placing small tubes in the ear, the average cost* increases to $962 and ranges from $737 to $1,861.⁵

If you have the myringotomy completed in a hospital, the cost increases significantly. The average in-hospital cost* is $1,385, with a range of $1,069 to $2,647. This means the average price is nearly double if you have the procedure done in a hospital.⁵

Other factors can also affect the price, including anesthesia costs, facility fees, the length of your hospital stay, follow-up care and consultations.⁵

Myringotomy cost by state/district

Another factor that influences price is the geographic region where you live. The table below shows just how much average costs* can vary based on your location:⁵

The differences can be quite stark. In Oklahoma, the average cost* is $775, but in a higher-cost-of-living location like California, it's $1,111.⁵

Does Insurance Cover a Myringotomy?

Health insurance typically covers any ear surgery that is deemed medically necessary, such as procedures to relieve a health condition or restore hearing.⁶ While this means your insurance will likely approve a myringotomy, you'll need to consult your plan to determine exactly what is and is not covered.

But remember: Even if the cost of your myringotomy is covered, you'll still need to consider your deductible, coinsurance and other factors when determining your out-of-pocket expenses. It's a good idea to have a financing alternative in place to cover any extra costs.

Candidates for a Myringotomy

The best candidates for a myringotomy (with or without tube placement) include:

• Patients with temporary eustachian tube blockage (such as from a cold) that creates a lot of pain or pressure. These would not include tube insertion.³
• Children with fluid behind the eardrum for longer than three months⁷
• Children who've had a middle ear infection more than three times in six months⁷
• Children experiencing speech delays from hearing loss due to fluid in the ear⁷
• Patients with ear infections who can't tolerate oral antibiotics. (Antibiotic drops would be put directly into the ear via the tubes.)⁴
• Anyone with complications from an ear infection, such as facial nerve palsy, meningitis or otomastoiditis⁴
• Patients who had a myringotomy that didn't fix the problem. In these cases, they would come back for a second myringotomy with tube placement.⁴

How Does a Myringotomy Work?

A myringotomy is typically an outpatient procedure that only takes about 15 to 20 minutes.² If tubes are put in, they'll stay in place for six to 18 months until (in most cases) they fall out on their own.⁷

Preparation

You'll need a hearing test, blood tests, an ear examination with an otoscope and a tympanogram (testing how your eardrum responds to pressure changes) to ensure you need the myringotomy.²

Your doctor may ask you to do the following:²

• Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure since you'll be getting anesthesia.
• Refrain from eating or drinking anything for at least eight hours before your procedure.
• Stop taking certain medications that can thin your blood for a week before.
• Stop any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for a week before.

Procedure

During the procedure, your doctor will make a small incision in your eardrum. This is sometimes done with a laser. Fluid in your ear will be drained immediately.²

Your doctor will then put a small silicone tube in the incision to help equalize the pressure in your ear (if you're getting tubes).⁷ The tube also allows your ear to continue to drain as needed.²

Possible side effects

Some minor side effects include:

• Popping or clicking sensations when burping, chewing or yawning after tube insertion, lasting until the ear heals²
• Minor pain when you burp, chew or yawn if tubes were inserted²
• Abnormal discharge after the tube is put in, possibly involving a fever. This may require antibiotics.⁴
• A small perforation in the tympanic membrane that typically heals on its own in about a week⁴
• Tube clogged by ear wax, blood or ear discharge (usually minor and resolves on its own)⁴
• Visible scarring²
• Continued ear infections (especially if you don't get tubes in your ears, too)³

More serious (but rarer) side effects include:⁴

• Decreased hearing²
• A hole in the eardrum that needs surgery⁷
• Persistent tympanic membrane perforation, leading to chronic infections, ear structure damage and hearing loss, often requiring surgical repair
• Plaques and degeneration in the tympanic membrane from chronic fluid (myringosclerosis)
• Tympanosclerosis, a hardening of the tympanic membrane and middle ear, potentially causing permanent hearing loss
• Complications preventing tubes from naturally falling out, such as wax buildup, that may require surgical removal
• Another set of tubes within five years (about 30% of children need this)⁷

If you notice any of the following, you should contact your doctor right away:⁸

• Lots of bleeding
• Severe pain
• Vomiting or nausea that's so severe you can't keep down liquids
• Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• Trouble breathing
• Rashes

Recovering From a Myringotomy

After your surgery, you'll probably feel a little pain. Your doctor will recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, a prescription pain medication or lidocaine ear drops to help.²

Don't worry if you feel off balance or a little dizzy at first. This should wear off in about 12 hours, but if it doesn't, call your doctor. Your ear might also feel clogged or full, and that will wear off in a few days, too.⁹

Your doctor may recommend the following aftercare:²

• Change the cotton in your ear canal regularly for two to three days if it was put in to absorb postsurgical drainage.
• Use ear drops after surgery as directed.
• Take any prescribed medications.
• Use earplugs when swimming or bathing.
• Do not put anything in your ears that your doctor didn't instruct you to use or try to clean them.

It will typically take about four weeks to heal completely, and your ear tubes will fall out on their own in about six to 12 months.²

A simple procedure that can typically be done in less than an hour, a myringotomy can be a good solution for those suffering from persistent ear infections. Talk with your doctor to find out if this procedure is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Myringotomy

Do you have more questions about a myringotomy? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about this procedure.

Financing a Myringotomy With the CareCredit Credit Card

If you are looking for an option to help manage your health and wellness costs, consider financing with the CareCredit credit card. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for the care you want and need and make payments easy to manage.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a provider near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Your CareCredit credit card can be used in so many ways within the CareCredit network including vision, dentistry, cosmetic, pet care, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases and spa treatments. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news and animal health and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.