Search 33,000+ CME courses
Back

StatPearls, LLC

  • Hand Strength
  • Hearing Loss, Conductive
  • Mastoiditis
  • Tinnitus
  • Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Tympanic membrane perforation is a disruption of tympanic membrane integrity that may be underreported because many patients exhibit minimal or no symptoms. The condition arises from infectious, traumatic, or iatrogenic causes, including acute otitis media, barotrauma, or insertion of tympanostomy and ventilation tubes. Although small, controlled perforations can improve middle ear aeration in Eustachian tube dysfunction, spontaneous or traumatic perforations disrupt the sound-conducting mechanism, resulting in conductive hearing loss, otorrhea, or tinnitus. Chronic infection and repeated perforation increase the risk of cholesteatoma and mastoiditis, leading to progressive hearing loss and, in severe cases, intracranial complications. Diagnosis is established through otoscopic and audiometric evaluation to determine the size, location, and functional impact of the defect. Most acute perforations heal spontaneously. Persistent or large defects require medical or surgical repair, such as myringoplasty or tympanoplasty, to restore membrane continuity and hearing. Prognosis is generally favorable with prompt management and avoidance of recurrent infection or trauma. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to sharpen learners’ skills in evaluating and managing tympanic membrane perforation. Participants will broaden their grasp of the condition’s etiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and evidence-based diagnostic and treatment recommendations. Enhanced competence will empower clinicians to collaborate with interprofessional teams providing care for affected individuals.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

AAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsNursingUp to 1.5 creditsPharmacyUp to 1.5 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABA — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 1.5 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABOHNS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 6 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • includes Podcast / audio
  • Credit · Up to 1.5 credits
  • MOC · Up to 1.5 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

Related courses

See all

Other providers’ courses on the same topic

More from StatPearls, LLC

See all

This provider’s courses closest to this one