Chronic otitis media, also known as chronic suppurative otitis media, is traditionally divided into simple, osteochondritic and cholesteatomatous types, and in recent years into active and quiescent phases. The basic features are: chronic (recurrent) pus flow from the ear, hearing loss, and perforation of the eardrum. These three points are also the basis for diagnosis. The danger of chronic otitis media is not only that it affects the patient’s normal life due to hearing damage and recurrent pus, but also that it can cause many complications, such as extracranial complications like facial paralysis and vertigo, and intracranial complications like brain abscess and meningitis. The treatment options for chronic otitis media: the resting stage can be treated conservatively and the tympanic membrane perforation can heal spontaneously, but those whose tympanic membrane perforation does not heal and whose CT indicates no recalcitrant middle ear lesions should undergo tympanoplasty in time to eradicate the chronic middle ear lesions and preserve or improve hearing; the active stage should focus on removing the lesions and preventing complications, and try to preserve hearing-related structures. The earlier the surgery is done, the easier the surgery is, the smaller the chance of complications, the greater the chance of hearing reconstruction, and the better the results. On the contrary, it is more difficult to operate, and those with combined sensorineural deafness have poor hearing recovery. At present, tympanoplasty is no longer required to be done only after dry ear, and those with long-term abscess can also undergo surgical tympanoplasty while the mastoid process is being treated in order to achieve the dual purpose of dry ear and hearing reconstruction in one operation. For the majority of patients, the results are good. In most cases of chronic simple otitis media, tympanoplasty is sufficient, while in osteosynthesis and cholesteatoma type otitis media, mastoid radical surgery is required to completely remove the lesions to prevent progression of the disease. If the lesion is completely removed, tympanoplasty can be performed at the same time to reconstruct the eardrum and implant an artificial bone to improve hearing, or after 3 months to 6 months if the lesion is severe. The overall effect of dry ear is more than 90%, and the hearing restoration effect is more than 70% for those who are satisfied.