title: Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of perichondritis of the pinna.
abstract: Perichondritis is a condition characterized by pain, swelling and purulent discharge from the external ear, which may progress to a deformity of the pinna. The presence of co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus may aggravate the situation. The main aetiological agent is Pseudomonas aeruginosa and treatment consists of antibiotics combined with surgical drainage of the ear. We present the case of a diabetic patient with recurrent perichondritis of the pinna treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with successful healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proved beneficial as adjunctive therapy of lesions in diabetic patients with foot ulcers, acting in the regeneration of intracellular free radicals and promotion of wound-healing factors. Thus, owing to its mechanisms of action, its effect on other injuries such as perichondritis in diabetic patients may be beneficial and lead to improvement.
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, UNICAMP, Otology, Audiology and Implantable Ear Prostheses Ear, Nose, Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Department, PO Box 6111, São Paulo 13081-970, Brazil, Phone: +55-(0)19-3521-7523, Fax: +55-(0)19- 3521-7563, E-mail: fernandolaffitte@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernando Laffitte
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavor
authors.forename: Guilherme Machado
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Alexandre Caixeta
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004425:Ear Cartilage; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Ear; case reports; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; infection; wound healing