A Surgical Experience of Cauliflower Ear with Osseous Metaplasia.

Cheon,  Ji Seon; Kim,  Gyu Bo; Cho,  An Young; Yang,  Jeong Yeol; Lee,  Seung Chan

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2006;12(2):173-176.
Published online September 1, 2006.

A Surgical Experience of Cauliflower Ear with Osseous Metaplasia.

Ji Seon Cheon, Gyu Bo Kim, An Young Cho, Jeong Yeol Yang, Seung Chan Lee

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chosun University, College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea. pschanz@hanmail.net

Abstract

Acute auricular hematoma is a common problem in wrestlers, boxers and secondary to trauma such as traffic accident. Early intervention can be limited to simple incision and drainage. Delay in treatment may allow the growth of ectopic fibroneocartilage derived from the damaged perichondrium and it can subsequently cause the unsightly cauliflower ear. Few paper deal with histopathologic analysis of removed excess cartilage fragment. Usual findings are cartilagenous tissue surrounded by fibrous tissue with hemosiderin deposits or cicatrix and foci of cartilage formation. But this case shows degenerative cartilage with osseous metaplasia and it has a stony hard consistency and is clinically a rare disease. The ear cartilage were exposed anteriorly and posteriorly. The deformed cartilage and bony tissue were removed and shaved to restore a normal form. The elevated cutaneous flap was sutured and silastic drainage was applied. We described histopathologic finding and surgical treatment of cauliflower ear with osseous metaplasia.

Key Words: Cauliflower ear, Degenerative cartilage, Osseous metaplasia