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Definition
Perichondritis is an infection of the skin and layer of tissue around the cartilage, most frequently of the external ear, following trauma or infection. When the infection involves the cartilage, the disease is called chondritis.
Prevention
The est way to prevent this infection is to avoid ear piercing through the cartilage !not the ear lo e". $ince this practice has ecome more popular, there has een a significant increase in the num er of cases of perichondritis and chondritis.
Treatment
Treatment consists of anti iotics, either y mouth or directly into the lood stream through an intra%venous line !I&". If there is a trapped collection of pus, then surgery may e necessary to drain this fluid and remove any dead skin and cartilage.
Prognosis (E pectations!
If the diagnosis is made rapidly and anti iotics are started, then full recovery is expected. In more advanced cases, when the infection involves the ear cartilage !chondritis", part of the ear may die and need to e surgically removed. This may result in the need for plastic surgery to restore the ear to its normal shape.
Comp"ications
The main complication is extension of the infection into the cartilage of the ear, which would require removal of the damaged part and possi ly cosmetic surgery to restore it.
'eview (ate ) **+*,+-..'eviewed /y ) 0e e 1olmenti, 1.(., Ph.(., Private Practice speciali2ing in Plastic and 'econstructive $urgery, /altimore, 1(. 'eview provided y &eri1ed 0ealthcare 3etwork.