Surgical treatment of preauricular sinus in children: Temporalis muscle fascia anchoring suture.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to find an effective treatment method for preauricular sinus (PAS) in the pediatric population. We also investigated if the prognosis of treatment differed according to the location of the PAS.

METHODS

From May 2015 to April 2020, a retrospective chart review was conducted on pediatric patients who underwent surgical excision of PAS at a tertiary referral medical center. Patients were divided into classical and variant groups according to the location of the PAS. The recurrence and postoperative complications, along with the preoperative history, were confirmed through medical chart review.

RESULTS

A total of 88 patients (112 ears) were included in the study (n = 77 in the classical group and n = 11 in the variant group). The mean age of the patient was 6.5 years, and there were 48 males and 40 females. To reduce recurrence after surgical treatment, a temporalis muscle fascia anchoring suture was used in combination with preoperative pit dye staining, probe use, and surgical microscopy. The overall recurrence rate was 2.4% (2 cases), and postoperative minor complications were chronic pain (4.5%, n = 4), minor skin inflammation (10.2%, n = 9), and subcutaneous suture knot discomfort (13.6%, n = 12). Between the classical and variant groups, no clinical differences such as recurrence rate or complication rate were found, except for the long hospitalization period in the variant group (p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a temporalis muscle fascia anchoring suture in combination with pit dye staining, probe use, and surgical microscopy in pediatric patients with PAS showed relatively low recurrence and complication rates compared to what has been previously reported in the literature. PAS in the variant position did not affect prognosis.