A mastoidectomy is a surgery done on the temporal bone structures to remove the parts with chronic disease. This can also be done to gain access to problems deeper in the ear and skull.
What to Expect After Surgery
Your child may have a big dressing over their ear and head. You will be told when this can be removed.
You can expect an incision behind or above the ear. If there are any stitches present, you will be given discharge instructions on care and/or removal.
Your child may have ear numbness that lasts for months.
There may be mild, blood-stained drainage from their ear for a few weeks after surgery.
They may have packing inside their ear canal.
They may have some taste changes for a short time.
A low-grade fever of up to 102°, is normal, for up to 7 days after surgery.
Your child may hear noises such as cracking or popping. This is normal.
Pain
It is common for a child to have a headache. Treat with pain medicine as directed.
Incision Care
Keep the incision behind the ear dry for two days. After two days, clean the incision by rinsing and gently patting the skin. Avoid scrubbing for 2 weeks after surgery, or as instructed by your child’s surgeon.
Check the incision for any signs of infection:
Redness
Swelling
Tenderness
Warmth at site
Pus-like drainage
If you see any of these things, contact the surgeon’s office right away.
Your child may have drainage from the ear for several weeks. Put a cotton ball in the outer ear to catch the drainage. Change the cotton ball as needed. Remove the cotton ball before using prescribed ear drops. Do not remove any packing inside the ear.
Keep water out of the ear until advised by your doctor. Use a cotton ball with lots of Vaseline ointment to seal ear when showering. Do not put their head under the bath water.
Activity
No sports, jogging, swimming, aerobics, heavy exercise or lifting over 25 pounds for 4 weeks.
No nose blowing for 1 week. After 1 week, your child can gently blow it one side at a time to avoid pressure on the ears.
Your child should keep their mouth open when sneezing or coughing for one week.
Do not let your child lay flat in bed for 3 days after surgery. Use at least 2 pillows to raise their head 30º. Your child should not lay on the treated side until your doctor approves.
No air travel for about 6 weeks. Your doctor will let you know when you can travel by air.
No driving (if old enough) while taking any pain medicine.
When to Call
Bleeding that soaks a gauze dressing in 10 minutes or less
Pain that is not relieved by medicine
Sudden dizziness
If packing comes of out of the ear
Significant changes in hearing
Weakness of the face (facial droop)
A fever over 102
Any signs of infection at the incision:
Redness
Swelling
Tenderness
Warmth at site
Pus-like drainage
Who to Call
If your child was seen for their pre-op visit in the Pediatric ENT Clinic in Madison at the American Family Children’s Hospital, please call (608) 263-6420, option 3, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
If your child was seen for their pre-op visit in the Pediatric ENT Clinic in Rockford at the Women and Children’s Hospital, please call (779) 696-8499, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
After hours, weekends or holidays, please call the Madison/American Family Children’s Hospital phone number. This number will give you the paging operator. Ask for the otolaryngology (ENT) doctor on call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
The toll-free number is 1-800-323-8942.
