A guide to managing disorders of the ear pinna and canal

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doi:10.12788/jfp.0022

Applied Evidence

A guide to managing disorders of the ear pinna and canal

J Fam Pract. 2020 July;69(6):E1-E6 | 10.12788/jfp.0022

By

Kristen Grine, DO

Mark Stephens, MD

This review will help you troubleshoot everything from infections and foreign bodies to trauma and neoplasm.

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PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

› Prescribe topical antibiotics for uncomplicated otitis externa, reserving systemic agents for infection extending outside the ear canal, necrotizing otitis externa, or patients who are immunodeficient. C

› Avoid clearing cerumen if a patient is asymptomatic and advise patients/parents on Do’s and Don’ts for ear wax accumulation. C

› Consider flooding the ear canal with xylocaine, alcohol, or mineral oil before attempting insect removal. C

Strength of recommendation (SOR)

A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series

References

1. Cox TC, Camci ED, Vora S, et al. The genetics of auricular development and malformation: new findings in model systems driving future directions for microtia research. Eur J Med Genet. 2014;57:394-401.

2. Sosin M, Weissler JM, Pulcrano M, et al. Transcartilaginous ear piercing and infectious complications: a systematic review and critical analysis of outcomes. Laryngoscope. 2015;125:1827-1834.

3. Stirn A. Body piercing: medical consequences and psychological motivations. Lancet. 2003;361:1205-1215.

4. Liu ZW, Chokkalingam P. Piercing associated perichondritis of the pinna: are we treating it correctly? J Larygol Oncol. 2013;127:505-508.

5. Mitchell S, Ditta K, Minhas S, et al. Pinna abscesses: can we manage them better? A case series and review of the literature. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2015;272:3163-3167.

6. Stone KE. Otitis externa. Pediatr Rev. 2007;28:77-78.

7. Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;150(1 suppl):S1-S24.

8. Prentice P. American Academy of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery Foundation clinical practice guideline on acute otitis externa. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2015;100:197.

9. Unadkat S, Kanzara T, Watters G. Necrotising otitis externa in the immunocompetent patient. J Laryngol Otol. 2018;132:71-74.

10. Carfrae MJ, Kesser BW. Malignant otitis externa. Otolarngol Clin N Am. 2008;41:537-549.

11. Chandler JR, Malignant otitis externa. Laryngoscope. 1968;78:1257-1294.

12. Hollis S, Evans K. Management of malignant (necrotising) otitis externa. J Laryngol Otol. 2011;125:1212-1217.

13. Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al. Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156:S1-S29.

14. Guest JF, Greener MJ, Robinson AC, et al. Impacted cerumen: composition, production, epidemiology and management. QJM. 2004;97:477-488.

15. Saxby C, Williams R, Hickey S. Finding the most effective cerumenolytic. J Laryngol Otol. 2013;127:1067-1070.

16. Awad AH, ElTaher M. ENT foreign bodies: an experience. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2018;22:146-151.

17. Heim SW, Maughan KL. Foreign bodies in the ear, nose, and throat. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:1185-1189.

18. Sharma K, Goswami SC, Baruah DK. Auricular trauma and its management. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;58:232-234.

19. Haik J, Givol O, Kornhaber R, et al. Cauliflower ear–a minimally invasive treatment in a wrestling athlete: a case report. Int Med Case Rep J. 2018;11:5-7.

20. Ebrahimi A, Kazemi A, Rasouli HR, et al. Reconstructive surgery of auricular defects: an overview. Trauma Mon. 2015;20:e28202.

21. Warner E, Weston C, Barclay-Klingle N, et al. The swollen pinna. BMJ. 2017; 359; j5073.

22. Rubin AI, Chen EH, Ratner D. Basal cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2262-2269.

23. Ranjan SK, Ahmed A, Harsh V, et al. Giant bilateral keloids of the ear lobule: case report and brief review of the literature. J Family Med Prim Care. 2017;6:677-679.

24. Roland PS, Marple BF. Disorders of the external auditory canal. J Am Acad Audiol. 1997;8:367-378.

25. Scheinfeld NS, Silverberg NB, Weinberg JM, et al. The preauricular sinus: a review of its clinical presentation, treatment, and associations. Pediatr Dermatol. 2004;21:191-196.

26. Roth DA, Hildesheimer M, Bardestein S, et al. Preauricular skin tags and ear pits are associated with permanent hearing impairment in newborns. Pediatrics. 2008;122:e884-890.

27. Tan T, Constantinides H, Mitchell TE. The preauricular sinus: a review of its aetiology, clinical presentation and management. Int J Ped Otorhinolaryngol. 2005;69:1469-1474.

Which antibiotics are most useful for infection following ear piercing? When is it safe to attempt removal of a foreign body from the ear canal, and which cerumenolytic agent may be best for ear wax? This review covers common ailments of the outer ear, which are often readily diagnosed given a patient’s history and thorough physical examination. We also address more complicated matters such as deciding when to refer for treatment of suspected malignant otitis externa, and which lab markers to follow when managing it yourself.

A (very) brief review of ear anatomy

Understanding the unique embryology and intricate anatomy of the external ear informs our understanding of predictable infections, growths, and malformations.

The external ear is composed of the external auditory canal and auricle. The external auditory canal has a lateral (external) cartilaginous portion and a medial (internal) bony portion. The auricular structure is complex and formed by the helix, antihelix (crura; scaphoid fossa), tragus, antitragus, conchae, and lobule. The auricle is composed of elastic cartilage covered by skin. The lobule is composed of skin, adipose tissue, and connective tissue.

Embryologically, the auricle, auditory canal, and middle ear form from ectoderm of the first 2 branchial arches during early gestation. The auricle forms from the fusion of soft-tissue swellings (hillocks). Three hillocks arise from the first branchial arch and 3 from the second branchial arch during the fifth and sixth weeks of gestation. Tissues from the second branchial arch comprise the lobule, antihelix, and caudal helix. The cartilage of the tragus forms from the first branchial arch. The ear canal forms from an epithelial invagination of the first branchial arch that also occurs during the fifth week of gestation.¹

Infections

Perichondritis

Inflammation or infection of the connective tissue layer surrounding the auricular cartilage (perichondrium) results in perichondritis. Further extension of infection can lead to an auricular abscess. Both of these conditions can have serious consequences.

What you’ll see. The most common risk factor for perichondritis is the popular practice of cosmetic transcartilaginous piercing.² Piercing of the helix, scapha, or anti-helix (often referred to as “high” ear piercing) causes localized trauma that can strip the adjacent perichondrium, decrease blood supply, create cartilaginous microfractures, and lead to devascularization. Rates of infection as high as 35% have been reported with high-ear piercing.³

Rates of infection as high as 35% have been reported with high-ear piercing.

The most common microbes associated with perichondritis and pinna abscess formation are Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus species.² P aeruginosa accounts for a majority (87%) of post-piercing infections of the auricular cartilage.²

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