title: Should the duration of head bandaging be reduced after pinnaplasty? A systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is common practice to use head bandages for 7-10 days following pinnaplasty. However, head bandages are often troublesome for patients and can lead to serious complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review was performed to evaluate the use of head bandages after pinnaplasty. A search of Medline, Embase (Ovid) and CINAHL (EBSCO collections), the Cochrane Library, Pubmed (US National Library of Medicine) and Google Scholar identified 34 related articles. Of these, 14 were deemed relevant and 2 randomised controlled trials, 1 cohort study, 3 case series and 1 literature review met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two randomised controlled trials show no statistically significant difference in complications when a head bandage was used for the standard 7-10 days, for 24 hours or not at all. The three case series show that using a head bandage for 24 hours or not at all are safe alternatives. The review article recommended that when head bandages are applied after pinnaplasty it should be for the shortest duration possible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the available evidence, not using a head bandage at all or using one for a maximum of 24 hours following pinnaplasty is recommended.
authors.affiliation: North Glasgow Otolaryngology Department,Gartnavel General Hospital,Glasgow,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: A E L
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: McMurran
authors.affiliation: North Glasgow Otolaryngology Department,Gartnavel General Hospital,Glasgow,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Royal Hospital for Sick Children,Glasgow,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamad
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Ninewells Hospital,Dundee,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakeel
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Royal Hospital for Sick Children,Glasgow,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubba
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*