title: Pitfalls in the management of preauricular sinuses.
abstract: A total of 159 operations for the excision of a preauricular sinus carried out in 117 patients over an 8-year period were reviewed. Previous excision, the use of a probe to delineate the sinus and operating under local anaesthesia all increased the chance of recurrence. The condition recurred more often in patients who developed post-operative wound sepsis than in those who healed primarily. Means of decreasing the recurrence rate include: (1) meticulous dissection of the sinus by an experienced head and neck surgeon under general anaesthesia; (2) the use of an extended preauricular incision; (3) clearance down to the temporalis fascia to ensure complete removal of all epithelial components; (4) avoidance of sinus rupture; and (5) closure of wound dead space.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vlantis
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing