Otitis media is an infectious disease of the middle ear and is not difficult to diagnose. Its symptoms depend, first, on whether the inflammation is in an active or inactive phase (just as a volcano is in an active and resting phase); second, whether the lesion involves the mastoid bone; and, in addition, whether the eardrum is perforated. Depending on the degree and extent of the lesion, otitis media can present with the following symptoms: running water and pus, hearing loss, tinnitus or cranial ringing, vertigo, ear pain, and additionally the relatively rare symptoms of facial palsy, meningitis, and other complications. Any disease affecting the eardrum and the auditory tuberosity can lead to conductive deafness, such as perforation of the eardrum and destruction of the auditory tuberosity leading to hearing loss. The two types of treatment available are topical or systemic medication and microsurgery. Microsurgery has been developed over the years and has three main objectives: complete removal of the lesion, reconstruction of the damaged hearing, and prevention of otogenic complications. The repair materials for the tympanic membrane and the auditory bone can come from autologous or artificial materials, for example, the temporalis fascia or cartilage membrane used to repair the tympanic membrane is taken from the patient’s own body, while the repair of the damaged auditory bone is now mostly done with artificial auditory bone, from the early polymer materials to the recent titanium auditory bone. Models are also available in partial auditory bone (PORP) and total auditory bone (TORP), all of which are chosen according to the degree of auditory bone destruction seen intraoperatively. Sometimes the lesions are so severe that they have to be staged, which is different in China and abroad. This is due to the fact that the connection between the new tympanic membrane and the auditory bone may be misaligned. If the surgery is done in two stages, the hearing may be better, but the patient needs to be hospitalized twice, which increases the financial burden and delays some time, so the doctor will do some communication with the patient to make it easier for the patient to choose the surgery plan. As for the safety of the surgery, the safety factor of modern microsurgery should be very high. Very few patients will have facial paralysis, which is related to the skill of the surgeon, the degree and scope of the lesion, and whether the patient has undergone multiple surgeries. The latter is usually done using a small nerve in the neck or near the outer ankle. After otitis media surgery, many patients report to their doctor that the ear is numb after surgery and that the ear doesn’t seem to be their own anymore. In other cases, the sound of running water in the ear is normal. In addition, some patients who have completed wall tympanoplasty have significant post-operative swelling around the ear, which is due to post-operative pressure bandaging (to prevent bleeding) and obstruction of venous return, which will slowly subside after a few days. Post-operative otitis media patients are reminded not to blow their nose or hold their breath as hard as possible after surgery. It is not necessary to wait for more than six months to travel by airplane after surgery, but it can be as early as a few days after surgery, depending on each individual’s situation, and of course, it needs to be evaluated by the attending surgeon.