Final answer:
Chronic otitis media with effusion can cause complications like tympanic membrane perforation, requiring surgical intervention such as tympanoplasty or mastoidectomy to restore hearing and eliminate infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complication of Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion
Otitis media with effusion (OME) occurs when fluid, with or without infection, accumulates in the middle ear due to blocked eustachian tubes. This can lead to chronic earaches and recurring secondary bacterial infections. A complication of chronic OME that requires surgery is tympanic membrane perforation, which may occur as a result of persistently increased pressure in the middle ear or from chronic infection leading to the erosion of the ear structures, as evidenced by the presence of a torn tympanic membrane or erosion of the inner ear bones. This condition can greatly impair hearing and lead to chronic discharge, thus surgical intervention, such as tympanoplasty or mastoidectomy, may be necessary to restore the integrity of the tympanic membrane and to clear the infection or the mucus buildup.