title: "Pocket sandwich" dressing in auricular surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The auricular dressing presents a challenge to medical staff and patients alike. The task is to dress the ear, which may include exposed cartilage, in a manner that provides protection but does not distort auricular anatomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two lengths of adhesive tape are sandwiched over the posterior and anterior aspects of the ear to cover the defect in an occlusive manner, creating a "pocket sandwich"-type dressing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This method results in a dressing that can be used to cover a post-surgical defect on any part of the ear. It is inexpensive and easily reproducible by the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present dressing is non-bulky, easy to perform, and encases the ear in a pocket of adhesive tape. Further advantages are that it avoids the auricular distortion that may occur with overly bulky dressings, provides an occlusive environment, is esthetically pleasing, and comfortably accommodates eyewear. We highly recommend its use for ear wound defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schmidtberger
authors.forename: Abdel Kader
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: El Tal
authors.forename: Deborah F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
mesh_terms: D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D053832:Surgical Tape