Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2025
Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
Surgical outcome following primary closure of auricular lacerations
Max Zwemstra1, Simon Geerse2, Maarten de Wolf2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.r.zwemstra@gmail.com.
Purpose:
To evaluate the aesthetic outcomes of primary closure of auricle lacerations in the emergency department.
Methods:
In this prospective case study in our tertiary referral center we included all patients with an auricular laceration without complete avulsion. Wound treatment involved thorough cleaning and primary closure. Photos of the auricle were taken at various stages for evaluation. To evaluate the achieved results after 3 months, a success classification system with four classes was developed: (1) full success, no irregularities, (2) partial success, only minor irregularities, (3a) unsuccessful, major irregularities or (3b) unsuccessful, (partial) necrosis.
Results:
Most patients demonstrated successful outcomes (60.7% full success and 32.1% partial success), with helical involvement being associated with inferior results. The interobserver percent agreement of the classification system was 88%. The Fleiss' kappa coefficient was 0.570, p < 0.001.
Conclusion:
Primary closure of ear lacerations results in a high success rate. We have introduced a revised classification system to qualify the success of treatment of the auricle laceration. Involvement of the helix is correlated with inferior surgical results three months after surgical closure. Trial registration number and date of registration: reference number W21_387 # 21.432, September 9, 2021.
