Auricular trauma and its management.

Forty cases of external ear trauma have been studied during a period of three years from Jan '2001 to December 2004. It was observed that accidental trauma to the auricle may result in laceration, partial or complete loss of auricle. Injury of the tympanic membrane, temporal bone or facio maxillary region may be associated with auricular trauma. All wounds of auricle carry a risk of infection leading to perichondritis. Principles of successful treatment are conservation of tissue and prevention of infection.