An ear that looks lumpy and deformed is called a cauliflower ear.It is the result of an untreated trauma to the outer ear. If trauma causes bleeding between the skin of the ear and the underlying ear cartilage, a deformed ear called a cauliflower ear can result. This is a permanent deformity of the ear that makes it resemblea cauliflower and may even affect hearing in that ear.
When the outer ear is rubbed hard against something like a wrestling mat, the skin can be sheared away from the cartilage. The bleeding that occurs under the skin causes swelling of the outer ear. This is called a hematoma, which means there is a collection of blood between the skin and cartilage. A blow to the ear is another way this hematoma may occur.
Unless the hematoma is drained and the skin pressed against the cartilage for a while, the hematoma will harden and scarring will occur that deforms the ear. The deformity may be great enough to block the ear canal causing a hearing loss.
Treatment involves draining the hematoma from beneath the skin. Once the blood is drained, the skin will fall into more normal placement against the underlying cartilage. Unfortunately, it takes awhile for the skin to reattach to the cartilage and this will allow more fluid to form and the hematoma to recur. To prevent more fluid from forming, the skin must be pressed against the cartilage by a pressure dressing and/or stitches right after drainage. If done properly, the ear should not become deformed. Generally, the sooner after the trauma that treatment is given the less the likelihood of complications. An ear, nose and throat specialist or plastic surgeon will be most experienced in this type of treatment.
Wearing headgear for contact sports, especially wrestling and boxing goes a long way to preventing a hematoma.
At Advanced Ear, Nose and Throat Care, our physicians Dr. Michael Bard, Dr. James Batti, Dr. Dov Bloch, Dr. Anthony Fama, Dr. Jay Klarsfeld, and Dr. Jeffrey Monroe treat most conditions of the ear, head, neck, eyes, nose and throat. These conditions range from silent reflux, ear infections, tonsil and adenoids, sleep disturbance, thyroid nodules and palate surgery to nasal polyps, and deviated septum sleep apnea. We are located in Fairfield County, CT in the towns of Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield and Southbury.
– Dr. Jeffery Monroe