A safe and reliable technique in the management of preauricular sinus

Preauricular sinus/pit is a common congenital malformation, which presents as a pit or depression at the anterior margin of the ascending margin of helix, adjacent to helicine crux, or adjacent to the tragus. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant incomplete pattern with variable power of expression. It is due to a defect in the auricular embyrogenesis, which results in the preauricular sinus or pit. It is closely related to the helical cartilage. Using local anaesthesia in adults an elliptical incision is made around the sinus, and extended to the postauricular area. Plane of temporalis fascia identified, skin anterior to the sinus is separated from the underlying soft tissue. The soft tissue between the plane of temporalis fascia and the skin anterior to the sinus is excised along with a piece of adjoining helical cartilage. With this method no recurrences were encountered.