Complications of surgery of the external ear

The external ear has intrinsic anatomical vulnerabilities that invite surgical complications. Among these are the exposed position of the auricle, the thinness of the skin, and subcutaneous cover; the delicate convoluted shape; and the avascularity of the underlying auricular cartilage. Certain complications of surgery such as infection, bleeding, and hypertrophic scars are shared in common with operative procedures elsewhere on the body. Other complications are specific to otoplasty, to ear reconstruction, and to other individual ear procedures. This article outlines the means of recognition, treatment, and prevention of complications in surgery of the external ear.