The Frequency of Underlying Causes and Required Surgical Interventions in Patients withExternal Ear Chondritis in south west of Iran
Mozafar Sarafraz1, Mahsa Abdulahzadeh2, Somayeh Araghi3*1Associated professor of otolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Hearing and Speech Research Centre , Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 2General physician , Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 3Resident of otolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Hearing and Speech Research Centre, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract: Perichondritis is acute inflammation of the skin and perichondrium, but the changes do not proceed beyond the ear cartilage border. In case of cartilage involvement, chondritis will occur. Clinical signs include severe pain, discharge, erythema, swelling and tenderness. Previous surgical manipulation of the ear, diabetes, and burns are the most important underlying etiologies of this disease. If not treated properly, permanent destruction of cartilage and deformity of the ear is created. This study was designed to study the disease thoroughly in relation to its epidemiologic situation. This retrospective chart review of patients with external ear chondritis, referring to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) ward of Imam Khomeini hospital, Ahvaz, during the years 2002 to 2013was conducted through a checklist. The information included epidemiologic and treatment data of 130 patients suffering fromchondritis. The mean age of patients was 29.8 years. 66.2% were male and 33.8% were female. History of previous surgery was the most common etiology with 52.3% and 53.8% of patients needed surgery during hospitalization. The mean duration of hospitalization was almost 10 days. The most common antibiotic prescribed was ceftazidime in 84.6% of patients. This disease has a significant association with age and sex of the patients. There is also a significant association between underlying etiologies and external earchondritis. More than half of patients required surgical intervention during hospitalization.
Keywords: Ear chondritis; etiology Back to TOC