Outer Ear Injury | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of an outer ear injury?
Symptoms of an outer ear injury can vary, but if your child is experiencing pain, severe swelling, bleeding, or discomfort, it is best to have them assessed by a care provider. Also, if you are concerned about the appearance of your child’s ear after an injury or trauma, it is best to contact your child’s care provider.
What causes an outer ear injury?
Children who play high-contact sports are at higher risk of outer ear injuries, but sudden or gradual trauma can also damage the outer ear.
Outer Ear Injury | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is an outer ear injury treated?
For many outer ear injuries your child might be treated without surgery, through compression dressings or corticosteroid injections to improve the ear’s appearance in the case of keloids. More severe cases of cauliflower ear and keloids may require surgical intervention to achieve a greater functional and cosmetic result. Split or stretched earlobes will not heal on their own and will require surgery to correct.
How we care for outer ear injuries
The team at the Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital understands the importance of getting your child back to sports and activities. Our specialized, experienced team works with you and your child to determine which treatment is best, so we work quickly to treat their outer ear injuries and lead them to recovery.
