Images in Clinical Medicine
Kim Eagle, M.D., Editor
Cauliflower Ear
N Engl J Med 1996; 335:399August 8, 1996
- Article
Figure 1 A 16-year-old wrestler had thickened neocartilage in his ear as a result of several untreated auricular hematomas. He presented with a recurrent hematoma that had been drained two days earlier in the emergency department. Panel A shows a hematoma in the superior anthelix and triangular fossa. The drainage site is in the center of the hematoma. After more extensive incision and drainage, with resection of the neocartilage, bolsters were placed on the ear to maintain contact between the perichondrium and the underlying cartilage. One day after surgery, infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa developed (Panel B). The patient was treated with parenteral gentamicin for six days and then with topical gentamicin for two weeks. Three months after the completion of therapy, the patient had a cauliflower ear (Panel C). He continued to wrestle, with protective headgear.
Kim Eagle, M.D.
Rubia Khalak, M.D.
Jay K. Roberts, M.D.
University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14621
