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Embedded earrings in children
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital MedicalCenter, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. Nathan.timm@cchmc.org
Insights
Embedded earrings are an uncommon pediatric emergency department complaint, primarily affecting young girls. This highlights the need to consider delaying ear piercing until children can manage aftercare independently.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Public Health
Background:
- Embedded earrings present a unique chief complaint in pediatric emergency departments.
- Understanding the incidence and demographics is crucial for resource allocation and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of embedded earrings in children visiting a pediatric emergency department.
- To describe the age distribution of affected children.
- To review the evaluation and treatment approaches for embedded earrings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of children with embedded earrings at a pediatric emergency department (2000-2005).
- Data collected included demographics, removal techniques, infection status, and antibiotic use.
- Analysis focused on incidence, age, earring location, and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- 100 patients were included; incidence was 25 per 100,000 visits.
- Most patients were girls (81%) with a median age of 8 years; 60% were under 10.
- Lobule was the most common site (87%), with 35% experiencing infection; local anesthesia was frequently used.
Conclusions:
- Embedded earrings are an infrequent cause for pediatric emergency department visits.
- Young children are disproportionately affected, supporting recommendations to delay ear piercing.
- This finding underscores the importance of parental guidance regarding ear piercing age.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the incidence of embedded earrings as a chief complaint among children presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED), (2) to describe the age distribution of children presenting to the ED with embedded earrings, and (3) to describe local experience with the evaluation and treatment of these children.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective chart review at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ED for children presenting with a chief complaint of an embedded earring from 2000 to 2005. Demographic data, removal technique, presence of infection, and antibiotic administration were recorded.
Results:
A total of 100 patients met criteria for inclusion in the study. The overall incidence was 25 per 100,000 patient visits. Most of the patients were girls (n = 81) with a median age of 8 years. Sixty percent of the cohort were younger than 10 years. Locations for embedded earrings included: lobule (n = 87), tragus (n = 2), and pinna (n = 11), with the majority having the posterior portion of the earring embedded (n = 68). Thirty-five percent of the patients had an infection at the embedded earring site. Local anesthesia was used in the most of the patients (n = 72); none required procedural sedation.
Conclusions:
Embedded earring is an uncommon complaint among children presenting to a pediatric ED. Young children are likely overrepresented in the occurrence of this problem, which supports the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to postpone ear piercing until self-care is achievable.
