Infection after Otoplasty? Perichondritis? (Photo)

Question

I'm 4 days post surgery but since day two (after the band was removed) I noticed some leakage from the antihelix, it's really swollen and the skin has the appearance as if a blister had popped. The doctor gave me antibiotics and an antibiotic ointment to put in the suture's area which I have also spread in the infected wound according to his instructions. Still, I'm very worried that it will evolve into chondritis. How does the diagnostic look? Will the cartilage stay that big? Thank you!

Waldemar Merck, MD · Answer

This is an unusually strong infection of the antihelix, especially of the skin of the antihelix. At the moment one cannot say whether there is a perichondritis as well. The therapy with an antibiotic and an antibiotic ointment is correct. If the infection doesn’t markedly subside and then disappear within the next days with this treatment, you should additionally have all the sutures removed.

Infection after Otoplasty? Perichondritis? (Photo)

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