title: Microsurgical replantation of a partial ear, with leech therapy.
abstract: Ear reconstruction is very difficult to perform and often results in a devastating deformity. The use of microsurgical replantation techniques has allowed very favorable aesthetic results. The authors report a case of partial ear replantation without venous repair with the use of medicinal leeches to decompress the acute venous congestion that occurred during postoperative care. Medicinal leech therapy can be very useful in partial ear replantation in cases with no venous repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012092:Replantation