MODEL RELEASED. Eardrum surgery. Image 1 of 6. Surgeon preparing a patient's eardrum (tympanic membrane) for surgical repair. This procedure, which repairs a perforated (torn) eardrum, is known as a myringoplasty. A patch of skin is cut from behind the ear to cover the tear in the eardrum. The eardrum is a very thin membrane and can easily be torn by trauma, infection, a loud noise, or the insertion of a foreign object into the ear canal. Perforation can reduce hearing, but surgical repair will not necessarily restore any lost hearing. For a sequence of images showing the operation see M572/037 to M572/042.