Accidental full thickness burn of the ear lobe following division of the great auricular nerve at parotidectomy.
Division of the great auricular nerve is commonly performed during superficial parotidectomy and leads to anaesthesia of the ear lobe. In the case presented here, this gave rise to an accidental self-inflicted thermal burn of the ear lobe. This might have been avoided had the posterior branch of the nerve been preserved.
Brown
A M
AM
Department of Oral Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Wake
M J
MJ
D000059:Accidents; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries* / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D010309:Parotitis / Q000601:surgery