Perichondritis of the auricle.

A search of the literature reveals reports of only 191 cases of auricular perichondritis. The present study includes 15 further cases caused by pseudomonas and proteus. Stroud's excision technique was used in four cases and resulted in marked deformity, repeated debridement, and protracted treatment. Tubal drainage was used in the remaining ears with very good esthetic results. It has been demonstrated in experimental animals and in humans that new cartilage forms in the subperichondrial auricular space in the second postoperative week, being maximum in the fourth week. In the present study tubes were retained two to four weeks to maintain an elevation of the perichondrium from what remains of the auricular cartilage to ensure homogeneous cartilage formation and provide local antibiotic treatment. Hospitalization is required for only two days. The four weeks tubal drainage method should be the method of choice for all cases of perichondritis and the excision method abandoned, even in gram-negative infections. A case of relapsing polychondritis is also presented because it is important to distinguish auricular perichondritis from relapsing polychondritis as the treatment of the latter is not surgical but with steroids.