Ear Lobe Repair:
A torn earlobe is seen with more and more frequency.
Piercing too close to the edge of the earlobe,
wearing heavy loop earrings, hereditary factors or
trauma usually from a baby reaching at earrings can
all account for a torn earlobe. Piercing an earlobe
puts it at risk to tear. The result may be a
partially or completely torn earlobe. Repair of a
torn earlobe is performed with a local anesthetic.
The technique of repair itself is entirely related
to the extent of the tear, amount of tissue
available and location. The procedure consists of
"freshening" the edges of the split and placement of
sutures to complete the repair of the earlobe or
creating flaps that incorporate the thickness
earlobe for a good re-approximation. Multiple fine
sutures are placed spanning the wound that should be
removed between one and two weeks. Depending on the
deformity, reconstruction can take different forms.
In all methods, the skin lining the slot is removed
creating a raw edge allowing flaps of adjacent
tissue to be brought together. When tissue has been
lost, however, the procedure is more complicated,
and reconstruction involves creating normal
proportions around a somewhat small ear.
Piercing an earlobe also puts it at risk for
development of a keloid. A keloid is a scar that
grows beyond the edges of the pierced opening in the
earlobe and is a thick, nodular, itchy cluster of
scar tissue that is often red or darker in color
than the surrounding skin. Keloids are generally
treated first by medical management where a steroid
is directly injected into them, if this fails, then
radiation may be the next treatment followed by
surgical excision with the understanding that they
frequently recur.
Sutures are removed 1 - 2 weeks after the repair
procedure. Patients are instructed to wait 3 months
before re-piercing them which could also be done in
the office.
