A comparison of ear amputations replantation techniques.

BACKGROUND: The management of traumatic ear amputations remains a rare and difficult occurrence for surgeons. This is due to the fact that the chosen replantation technique must ensure the best vascular supply and the surrounding tissues have to be preserved as to not jeopardize a future auricular reconstruction in the event of replantation failure. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review and synthesize the literature about the different surgical techniques described to date in the management of traumatic ear amputations (partial or total). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant articles were searched on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library databases in accordance with the PRISMA statement guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 67 articles was retained. When possible, microsurgical replantation enabled the best cosmetic result but required important care. CONCLUSION: Pocket techniques and local flaps should not be performed because of the lower cosmetic result and the use of the surrounding tissues. However, they could be reserved for patients without access to advanced reconstructive techniques. When possible, microsurgical replantation can be attempted after patient consent for blood transfusions, postoperative care and hospital stay. Simple reattachment for earlobe amputations and ear amputations up to one third is recommended. When microsurgical replantation cannot be attempted, and if the amputated segment is viable and bigger than one third, simple reattachment may be attempted with an increased risk of replantation failure. In case of failure, an auricular reconstruction by an experienced microtia surgeon or prosthesis may be considered.

Near-Total Ear Avulsion Repaired With Primary Closure and Hyperbaric Oxygen: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Near-total ear avulsion is a rare and challenging problem to repair with many techniques described; primary repair is an attractive option but is not always successful. Healing may be augmented with postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), but this technique is under-reported, and an ideal regimen is not known. The study objective is to discuss the role of HBOT in the management of ear avulsion by reviewing 2 unique cases. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature. A Pubmed search using the terms ear avulsion and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen was performed. RESULTS: Two pediatric patients presented with near-total avulsion of the auricle after suffering a dog bite. Various management options were discussed including observation, primary repair, post-auricular cartilage banking, graft reconstruction with periauricular tissue or rib cartilage, or microsurgical replantation. The decision was made to perform primary reattachment, followed by adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The patients achieved favorable esthetic results and continue to maintain the function of the reattached ear. Photo documentation was obtained throughout the process. DISCUSSION: There is no consensus on the management of near-total ear avulsion. Primary repair is ideal from a cosmetic and ease-of-operation standpoint but does not always yield viable tissue. The use of postoperative HBOT is an attractive option that may boost success rates, but the ideal HBOT regimen is unknown. These cases represent a successful application of this innovative technique in a pediatric patient.

[Acute care of soft tissue injuries in the head and neck region]. / Akutversorgung von Weichteilverletzungen im Kopf-Hals-Bereich.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue injuries are a common consequence of head and neck trauma. With injuries being highly individual and varying depending on the underlying trauma, it is difficult to establish standardized guidelines for head and neck trauma in general. The main goal of this study was to showcase the distribution of soft tissue injury types and the principles pertaining to acute care of the individual clinical presentations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was carried out using all trauma-relevant ICD-10 codes for trauma to the head (S00.- to S09.-) and neck (S10.- to S19.-) among patients who were treated at the authors' clinic-a certified national trauma center-during a period of 10 years (2012 to and including 2021). RESULTS: A total of 8375 patients with head and neck trauma were treated during the observation period, i.e., an average of 836 patients per year. Within this collective, 2981 trauma cases involving soft tissue injuries were documented. Superficial injuries to the head (S00.-) and open wounds to the head (S01.-) were the most common head and neck soft tissue injuries, with 1649 and 920 cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: The case numbers of soft tissue injuries generally show an inverse correlation to the required underlying trauma: diagnoses of the categories S00 and S01 occur very often; injuries which only occur after severe trauma, such as traumatic amputation at neck level (S18), are rare. According to current literature, penetrating neck traumas should be treated using a no-zone approach. In Europe, penetrating neck injuries are rather rare because of low crime rates and strict weapon laws.

Auricular avulsion injuries: Literature review and management algorithm.

Traumatic ear avulsion (TEA) may have tremendous psychological consequences if not managed properly. There are no clear guidelines on the surgical management of these injuries, especially in developing countries where microsurgical facilities are lacking. We aimed to review the literature on surgical management of TEA with the main focus on direct re-attachment (DR) so as to develop a surgical management algorithm that can be applied in the absence of microsurgical facilities. We performed an extensive review of the relevant English literature on papers indexed in PubMed describing TEA repaired with DR without restriction to a specific publication time window. A total of 28 cases in 18 publications were reviewed and analyzed. Our results indicate that in the acute setting with no available microvascular expertise, DR of auricular avulsion injuries can be better than other nonmicrosurgical techniques in generating good esthetic results, especially in incomplete auricular avulsion and small segment avulsion. The operative approach depends on the clinical setting. DR of the auricular avulsion injuries is an accepted approach. It produces good cosmetic outcomes while preserving the auricular area for future reconstruction in case of re-attachment failure.

Primary Reattachment of Near-Complete Ear Amputation: A Successful Outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Traumatic amputation of the ear constitutes a great aesthetic deformity that can have a tremendous negative impact. Reports describing the survival of near-complete ear amputation using non-microsurgical replantation are scarce. We aimed to study the surgical outcome of patients with near-complete ear amputations supplied by small pedicle bridges that were treated with primary reattachment. METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients with near-complete ear amputation who were admitted at Al Ain Hospital from January 2016 to December 2019. RESULTS: Five patients were studied. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle injury, followed by cutting injury. The skin pedicle was inferior in 3 (60%) patients of patients. The median width of the skin pedicles was 8.5 mm. The median interval between the injury and the surgical management was 4 hours. All patients underwent primary reattachment of the ear without microsurgery. One patient developed a small area of necrosis of the ear lobe. All patients recovered with a completely healed pinna and satisfactory overall appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Primary reattachment without microsurgery of the near-complete ear amputation can be safely performed in the presence of an intact skin pedicle. It can achieve an aesthetically satisfactory outcome without severe complications.

En-bloc Auriculectomy for Removal of a Large Pinna-Based Ear Mass in a Horse.

A 15-year-old Pony of America (POA) gelding presented for evaluation of a large mass present on the right external pinna. Based on gross appearance, the right ear mass was suspected to be neoplastic. The most likely differential diagnosis was that of a fibroblastic sarcoid. Complete auriculectomy via use of a constricting latex-tourniquet performed under multimodal analgesia was proposed as an option to achieve complete resolution of mass growth and improve patient comfort. Benefits of latex tourniquet constriction included immediate lack of bleeding associated with amputation, gradual ischemic necrosis and sloughing of tissue distant to the site of constriction, and cost-effective application. The external pinna sloughed 3 weeks following application of the constricting latex tourniquet. Complete healing was achieved within 3 months from the time of tourniquet application. The middle ear canal sealed closed as a result of auriculectomy, with no observed long-term discomfort or morbidity aside from reduction in hearing. This is the first report of total external ear amputation in the horse. Complete auriculectomy via use of a constricting latex tourniquet is a feasible method for en-bloc removal of large, complicated ear masses.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Large Composite Grafts: An Alternative in Pediatric Facial Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Management of pediatric facial defects can be challenging, as reattachment of large composite grafts is usually unsuccessful. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has been researched to augment composite graft survival, but clinical use for this application remains anecdotal. The authors present their successful experience managing select cases with large composite grafts and HBO as an adjunct. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified children presenting with facial defects and managed operatively with large composite grafts (≥1.5 × 1.5 cm) and HBO therapy. Records were reviewed for defect characteristics, management details, and outcomes at last follow-up. RESULTS: Nine children (avg. 8.4 years, range 1.6-15.1) presented with ear or nose defects secondary to dog bites (n=7), falls (n=1), or congenital causes (n=1). Three experienced ear amputations, and six suffered nasal avulsions of varying degrees. All avulsed ears were reattached. Three cases of nose avulsions were reattached; the other three underwent secondary reconstruction with composite ear grafts. HBO was initiated immediately and continued for 8-10 days. All grafts survived at least 80% with no postoperative complications. At last follow-up (avg. 30.1 months; 0.8-63.9), all patients demonstrated good cosmetic results with minimal residual deformity. CONCLUSION: When reconstruction of pediatric facial defects warrants a large chondrocutaneous graft, immediate postoperative HBO therapy can increase survival. Particularly when reattaching amputated segments, if successful, this approach offers an anatomically ideal result without donor site morbidity. If unsuccessful, it does not "burn bridges" and decreases the extent of secondary reconstruction. The authors present their HBO protocol along with a review of available literature.

Traumatic complete outer ear amputation by human bite, a forensic case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of a complete external ear amputation, caused by a human bite, that took place during a quarrel in a local farmers' market. The male victim was transferred to the Hospital. After surgical reattachment of the auricle, a forensic clinical examination was performed, as per legal obligation. During examination, the victim was found to have sustained: contusions of the orbital regions (lower eyelids), bilaterally, soft tissue oedema of the forehead (to the left of the middle line), and contusion of the right neck area. He also sustained multiple soft tissue injuries (contusions, abrasions) on the torso and on both upper and lower extremities. Clinical forensic examination of human bite injuries requires thorough description of the wound, proper photography and possibly collection of swabs for DNA identification (in case of unknown perpetrator). Nevertheless, the Forensic Pathologist is often required to perform clinical examination, only after medical care has been provided. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the need of proper documentation and act accordingly.

Mechanisms of ear trauma and reconstructive techniques in 105 consecutive patients.

Acquired auricular deformities may diminish facial esthetics and cause psychological distress. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the type of injuries and applied reconstructive techniques in a large academic hospital in The Netherlands. A retrospective chart review was conducted for the last 105 patients who underwent auricular reconstruction for an acquired deformity. Data concerning gender, affected side, cause of injury, anatomical region, the previous and further surgeries, type of cartilage, and skin cover used were collected and analyzed. 105 patients were included. Acquired auricular deformities were mainly caused by bite injuries (22 %), traffic accidents (17 %), burns (9.5 %), and post-otoplasty complications (9.5 %). The upper third of the auricle was most often injured (41 %), followed by the entire auricle (19 %). 70 % of cases required reconstruction with costal cartilage. The most common form of cutaneous cover was a postauricular skin flap (40 % of cases). This study gives a complete overview of causes and treatment of acquired auricular deformities. The results are comparable with the results of similar studies found in literature. Bite wounds are the leading cause of acquired auricular injuries. The upper third is most commonly affected. In the largest percentage of reconstructions, costal cartilage and a postauricular flap were used to correct the deformity.

Reattachment of Partially Amputated Ear Based On 7 mm-wide Small Skin Pedicle without Vascular Anastomosis

PURPOSE: It has been reported that the ear perfusion can maintain by a very small pedicle because the ear has good vascularized system. Replantation of an amputated ear with vascular anastmosis, has been reported before and offers the succeessful reconstructive results. But, in this paper we report a case of complete nonmicrosurgical salvage of a nearly amputated ear based on 7 mm-wide small skin pedicle with adjunctive therapies. METHODS: A 49-year-old man was referred with a nearly complete detachment of left ear. The blood supply to the ear was maintained exclusively on 7 mm-wide small skin pedicle in the lobule. After we identified the fresh bleeding at the distal margin of the detached ear, we performed the primary repair. At the end of the procedure, the areas of the concha bowl and helical root appeared to be congested. So the immediate postoperative treatment for improving the tissue survival was done with Lipo-Prostaglandin E1 (Eglandin(R)) injection, leech apply and antibiotics medications. RESULTS: Assessment of the replanted ear on postoperative day 14 revealed a nearly viable auricle including the helical root. The ear appeared to be entirely healed, with excellent projection and fully restored normal elasticity. CONCLUSION: We found the complete salvage of a nearly amputated ear based on 7 mm-wide small skin pedicle with adjunctive therapies including Lipo-Prostaglandin E1 (Eglandin(R)) injection, leech apply and antibiotics without microsurgery.

Microsurgical Replantation of the Amputated Ear without Venous Repair: Clinical Experience with Leech

The application of microsurgical techniques to replant amputated ears has reliable outcome in ear salvage. However as the vessels available for anastomosis are relatively small, the technical success of the vascular repair is still challenging. In addition, avulsion amputations are a common occurrence and this makes ear vessels not available for use. Indeed, even when veins are identified and repaired or reconstructed, their relatively low flow state combined with postoperative swelling leads to a high rate of problems such as venous drainage. In these situations, either sticking the ear and allowing bleed freely or, more often, the leech therapy can be used as external decompression of the venous congestion in the replanted ear, which made the replantations successful. We present a successful result of microsurgical replantation in almost totally amputated ear which is anastomosed in the lower division of postauricular artery. No attempt was made to reestablish venous outflow microsurgically. Instead of venous repair, the leech therapy was applied immediately for the purpose of external decompression of postoperative venous congestion and the outcome was successful. This case provides the evidence that venous repair is not the requisite for successful replantation.

Microsurgical Replantation of the Amputated Ear without Venous Repair: Clinical Experience with Leech

The application of microsurgical techniques to replant amputated ears has reliable outcome in ear salvage. However as the vessels available for anastomosis are relatively small, the technical success of the vascular repair is still challenging. In addition, avulsion amputations are a common occurrence and this makes ear vessels not available for use. Indeed, even when veins are identified and repaired or reconstructed, their relatively low flow state combined with postoperative swelling leads to a high rate of problems such as venous drainage. In these situations, either sticking the ear and allowing bleed freely or, more often, the leech therapy can be used as external decompression of the venous congestion in the replanted ear, which made the replantations successful. We present a successful result of microsurgical replantation in almost totally amputated ear which is anastomosed in the lower division of postauricular artery. No attempt was made to reestablish venous outflow microsurgically. Instead of venous repair, the leech therapy was applied immediately for the purpose of external decompression of postoperative venous congestion and the outcome was successful. This case provides the evidence that venous repair is not the requisite for successful replantation.