Reconstruction of the Ear After Human or Animal Bites

Abstract

Human and animal bites are unusual causes of ear deformities that require immediate treatment and concern to identify the aggressor (human or animal), to take good care of the wounds on the skin or mucosa, not to perform any surgical procedure, to wait until the wound is completely healed, and not to performing tentative of re-implantation. It is advisable to prescribe antibiotics, to administer preventive anti-tetanus medication, to inform the Public Health Department, and to keep the patient under medical care until the wounds have totally healed. When the segment of the ear includes auricular cartilage, it is not recommended to re-implant or introduce cartilage from subcutaneous tissue from any other area of the victim’s body. The ear must be repaired or reconstructed under proper surgical planning, and the operation must be performed using the proper technique. Whenever a piece of ear cartilage is missing, it is necessary to replace it; the best way is to use rib cartilage removed from the patient.