Congenital Pre auricular sinuses are malformations that result from incomplete fusion of 2 of the 6 hillocks that arise from the first and second branchial arches.
Once infection occurs, the likelihood of recurrent acute exacerbations is high, and the sinus tract should be surgically removed. Surgery should take place once the infection has been treated with antibiotics and the inflammation has had time to subside.
The sinus tract should be surgically extirpated in patients who are asymptomatic because the onset of symptoms and subsequent infection cause scarring, which may lead to incomplete removal of the sinus tract and postoperative recurrences. The recurrence rate after surgery is 20-30% , if the track is incompletely excised.
Most postoperative recurrences occur because of incomplete removal of the sinus tract. One way to prevent incomplete removal is to properly delineate the tract during surgery. Some surgeons cannulate the orifice and inject methylene blue dye into the tract.
During surgery, some surgeons use either a probe or an injection of methylene blue dye for cannulation of the orifice. The most successful method is to use both modalities to delineate the entire tract.
The standard technique for extirpation of the sinus tract involves an incision around the sinus and subsequent dissection of the tract to the cyst near the helix.
A portion of the auricular cartilage, which is attached to the tract, is also removed, decreasing the incidence of recurrence to 5%.
Dr Paulose is an ENT Consultant Plastic and Laser Surgeon with over 35 years of experience covering in Ear, Nose and Throat procedures, specializing in Laser Surgery and conventional medicine across India, U.K. and Middle East. He is currently engaged with the Jubilee Hospital, in Kerala, India.
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