Introduction: Near-total ear avulsion is a rare and challenging problem to repair with many techniques described; primary repair is an attractive option but is not always successful. Healing may be augmented with postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), but this technique is under-reported, and an ideal regimen is not known. The study objective is to discuss the role of HBOT in the management of ear avulsion by reviewing 2 unique cases.
Methods: Case report and review of the literature. A Pubmed search using the terms ear avulsion and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen was performed.
Results: Two pediatric patients presented with near-total avulsion of the auricle after suffering a dog bite. Various management options were discussed including observation, primary repair, post-auricular cartilage banking, graft reconstruction with periauricular tissue or rib cartilage, or microsurgical replantation. The decision was made to perform primary reattachment, followed by adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The patients achieved favorable esthetic results and continue to maintain the function of the reattached ear. Photo documentation was obtained throughout the process.
Discussion: There is no consensus on the management of near-total ear avulsion. Primary repair is ideal from a cosmetic and ease-of-operation standpoint but does not always yield viable tissue. The use of postoperative HBOT is an attractive option that may boost success rates, but the ideal HBOT regimen is unknown. These cases represent a successful application of this innovative technique in a pediatric patient.
Keywords: auricular repair; ear amputation; ear avulsion; hyperbaric oxygen.