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Comparative study of the post-helical crus approach for excision of classic preauricular sinuses
Haigang Zhang1, Yan Gao1, Xunwu Dou1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province, 215025, China.
Background:
The standard Pre-helical Crus Approach (Pre-HCA) for preauricular sinus excision often leaves a visible scar.
Objective:
To investigate the feasibility of the Post-helical Crus Approach (Po-HCA) for the excision of classic preauricular sinuses in pediatric patients.
Methods:
The differences between Po-HCA and the Pre-HCA were analyzed regarding total incision length, sinus incision length, operative time, postoperative wound infection rate, and recurrence rate.
Results:
The Po-HCA achieved a significantly shorter sinus incision length (0.2 ± 0.004) compared to the Pre-HC (2.02 ± 0.09) (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in total incision length, operative time, postoperative wound infection rate, or recurrence rate (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The Po-HCA technique offers a safe and effective alternative for excising classic preauricular sinuses in the non-infected stage, with the advantage of a minimal visible scar (0.2) compared to conventional approaches.
