Both ears sutured, the wounds are cleansed thoroughly, though gently, with fifty-per-cent peroxid of hydrogen and dried and dusted over with aristol powder.
Fig. 141. Fig. 142.
Correction of Malposed Auricles. (Author’s case.)
A pad of gauze is placed over each ear and a bandage applied around the head to protect the wounds and retain the ears, care being taken not to tighten too tightly, as this occasions great pain and possible pressure erosion of the skin.
The dressing should be changed on the second day, as there is usually some soiling of the dressings at the lower angles of the wounds. They are again powdered, using the pulverflator preferably, and rebandaged.
The ears will be found to lie very close to the head at this time, if the operation has been properly done. Anteriorly in the skin of the concha and corresponding to the line of cartilage exsection will be found a crease more or less discolored, according to the severity of injury occasioned by the operation.
This should give the surgeon no concern, as the fold will accommodate itself in a few days. There may be a persistence of the fold for some time, however, which, if desirable, can be corrected by a small secondary operation at a later date. The author has never experienced the need of such, however.
The patient at this time usually bemoans the position of his ears, and should be assured beforehand what was expected, and that the condition is only temporary.