Excision of exposed cartilage for management of Mohs surgery defects of the ear.
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.
Larson
P O
PO
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705.
Ragi
G
G
Mohs
F E
FE
Snow
S N
SN
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