CHONDRITIS AND AURICULAR BURN

Chondritis

Abstract

Objective: Auricular burn is a common injury encountered in the burn patients. It has devastating complications including chondritis, hypertrophic scars and hyperpigmentation, the worse of which is chondritis inevitably leading to deformity. The study shows our experience in prevention, early detection and proper management of auricular burn and chondritis. 
Study Design: A retrospective descriptive study. 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre, King Hussain Medical Centre, Jordon from January 2000 to December 2005. 
Patients and Methods: All the patients admitted to the burn unit at the Royal Rehabilitation Center at King Hussein Medical Center from January 2000 through December 2005 with burn involving the ear were included in the study. The ears were managed locally with topical antibiotics and light pressure dressing. Early detection of chondritis was undertaken and early management with surgical intervention and proper dressing was applied. 
Results: A total of 62 patients (11.5%) out of 537 had ear burn, 71% were due to direct flame burn. Chondritis developed in 10.8% of patients with deep superficial and full thickness direct flame burned ears. Twelve and half percent of ears were lost, 25% had mild deformity, and 62.5% of ears developed moderate deformity. Hyperpigmentation occurred in 21.6% of ears and 9.5% developed hypertrophic scars. 
Conclusion: Chondritis is a devastating complication after auricle burn. The incidence of chondritis can be decreased by proper care of the burned ear and avoidance of infection. Early detection and proper management of this condition can decrease the severity of deformity as sequelae of chondritis.