A simplified dressing for the earlobe

British Journal of Plastic Surgery (1977),

30,

100

A SIMPLIFIED DRESSING FOR THE EARLOBE By Department

of Surgery,

RAVELO V.

ARGAMASO, M.D.

Division of Plastic Surgery, Montejiore Hospital and Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10467, USA

AN effective pressure dressing of conventional

materials for the earlobe is bulky and difiicult to maintain apart from bandaging wrapped around the head; this is usually disliked by female patients and it can be avoided by the following use of a foam-lined aluminium finger splint. The splint is bent into a U with one limb longer than the other. The short limb corresponds with the length of the earlobe. The distal end of the longer limb is then bent about 90” and should fit snugly in the concha (Figs. I and 2). A strip of xeroform gauze, or similar dressing, is placed on the earlobe and the splint is then gently clipped over it. The foam side serves as a pressure dressing while it protects the skin from direct contact with the metal part of the splint. Caution. Avoid bending the splint into a V, this forming a sharp angulation where excessive pinching of the skin and necrosis might occur. Corners on the metal should be rounded and must not project beyond the foam lining. A stick-on decoration (decal) may be added to create the illusion of a fancy earring. This dressing is easy to make, simple to apply, and is easily removed and is of value after such operations as repair of cleft lobes or removal of keloids.

FIG. I. FIG. 2.

Foam-lined

Dressing in place.

aluminium

splint fashioned into a clip-on earlobe dressing.

This is easily concealed with the patient’s hair or by a head scarf. 100