Management of the acutely burned ear

One hundred patients with burns of the ears were reviewed. Most had second-degree burns and did well. Loss of the external ear occurred in 15 patients, or 22 ears, due to the presence of very deep burn with full thickness injury. Chondritis developed in nine ears (5 per cent) with severe destruction of the ear in 8. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an especially destructive organism to cartilage and was associated with all our cases of chondritis. Progression of deformity and development of infection can be minimized by avoidance of pressure, regular cleansing and application of topical antibiotics. Careful debridement and skin grafting of any third-degree burn areas are required and should be carried out as soon as possible.