title: Excision of exposed cartilage for management of Mohs surgery defects of the ear.
abstract: Cartilage of the ear is often exposed during Mohs surgical procedures. Fenestration of the cartilage with a skin punch has been recommended to stimulate granulation tissue where the perichondrium has been destroyed. This article describes an alternative method--the excision of a window through the exposed cartilage, fully exposing the perichondrium on the other side of the cartilage. This promotes the rapid healing by second intention or provides a vascular bed for immediate skin grafting. Also, aggressive excision of nonviable cartilage helps prevent chondritis or perichondritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705.
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragi
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Mohs
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Snow
mesh_terms: D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D014945:Wound Healing