3 Ways To Drain Cauliflower Ear - WikiHow

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1 Undergo drainage and compression. Although drainage with a needle is still widely used by doctors, it's no longer recommended by many sources because the hematoma often returns to some extent.[10] X Research source Regardless, your doctor may prefer needle aspiration and go about it in a similar fashion to the above recommended procedures. Afterward, your doctor will apply a special compression wrap to the site to prevent additional blood from pooling in the wounded ear.
- Aside from expertise, the main difference between you draining your ear and your doctor doing it is that your doctor will use a local or topical anesthetic to make the procedure nearly painless.
- Applying pressure with a tight bandage also helps any torn skin reconnect to the ear cartilage beneath it.[11]
- The doctor will likely apply gauze to both the front and back of your ear before wrapping it with sterile bandages.
2 Ask about drainage and splinting. This procedure is quite similar to the needle and syringe drainage and compression technique, but instead of using a compression wrap to apply pressure on your ear, a physician will place a special splint inside to keep more constant pressure on the wound in order to completely drain it.
- Splinting may take the form of sutures, which are placed through the ear in a manner that holds a special gauze in place.[12]
- Alternatively, the splint can be made from pediplast or silicone and molded to your ear.
- If a splint is used, your ear will need to be checked by your doctor again in one week. Sutures stay in place for two weeks unless redness or tenderness develops. A molded splint may be kept in place even longer.
3 Get an incision to drain your ear instead. The most commonly recommended method for doctors to drain a cauliflower ear is by a small incision from a scalpel. Making an incision completely drains the blood and greatly reduces the chance of a hematoma forming again, which can be an issue with the needle drainage technique. Making an incision is also easier to get thickly coagulated or clotted blood out of your ear.
- This type of procedure is typically performed by a plastic surgeon or by a licensed otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist).
- With an incision technique, the doctor will have to close the wound with a few stitches, which will either dissolve or be taken out a week or so later.
- Stitches will keep the detached skin over the cartilage, giving it an opportunity to reattach itself to the cartilage properly. [13]