Pressure exerted by head bandages used in otological surgery

The pressure exerted by head bandages at the operation site following ear surgery was measured using a balloon catheter and pressure transducer. The initial pressures achieved, their diminution with time and the relationship of pressure to the induction of headache in the patient were studied. The principal findings were that the standard otological head bandage is rarely tight enough to prevent haematoma formation, bandages have lost their efficacy after the first hour and headaches are associated with a significantly higher initial bandage pressure.