Background and Objective

The anatomical localization or the auricles make them susceptible of trauma. Reconstruction after traumatic amputation requires a careful evaluation and experienced surgeon in auricle reconstruction for a good result. Early treatment of this kind of lesions avoids pathologic wound healing and gets proper conditions for auricle reconstruction.

The objective of our study is to know which is the most affected population by auricle trauma and the etiology of this lesions in our area.

Methods

We realized a retrospective study analyzing clinical and photographic files of the patients attended by auricle trauma in a 5 years period at Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González in the City of México (México): a total of 214 patients.

Results

Because of the exposed localization of the auricle in males with short hair, we found a rate 4.5:1 male/female in our study. The most frequent age was 33 years and 82% of the patients were between 10 and 40 years old, with a media of 26 years old. Left side was involved in 54.6%. Concerning Weerda classification 37.8% cases were I degree (wounds without cartilage compromise) followed by 35.5% cases in IV degree (avulsion with certain degree of cartilage lost). The most frequent mechanism of injury was by direct trauma followed by human bite. The most frequent localization was the helix that could be explained by being the most external part of the auricle. None of our patients were reimplantation candidate.

Conclusions

Our study let us establish the most frequently affected age group in our area by auricle trauma, and its main etiology. Besides, we report two cases of iatrogenic auricle lesion in pediatric patients than can help us to prevent or avoid these complications. In our series, 59.3% of the cases was due to fights or aggressions for a third person, that reflect the social problematic in our country.

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