Blood or other fluids fill the space in between and disrupts normal blood flow. The skin on the surface of the ear is the only blood supply for the cartilage. Without adequate blood flow, the cartilage is starved of vital nutrients. This can cause the tissue to become hard and fibrous, resulting in disfigurement.
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Let's find out more about it. Cauliflower ear occurs after someone gets a hit or repeated hits to the ear. Wrestlers and boxers are more likely to have cauliflower ear because their ears may be hit while they're in a match.
Corrective surgery is called otoplasty. If it is completed within 30 days of the initial clot and formation, it involves cutting out the newly formed scar tissue and stitching the wound up. This typically takes place under local anesthetic and requires the patient to wear a headband for a few days following the surgery.
People can usually resume contact sports 12 weeks after the operation. In cases where the cartilage has hardened and the scar tissue has settled in, the surgeon must reconstruct the ear cartilage, particularly when the cartilage has died.
This surgery typically takes longer and has a longer recovery time, as it can involve taking cartilage from the ribs to reconstruct the ear. Preventing a cauliflower ear typically means avoiding sports where multiple impacts to the side of the head are likely. Participants in these sports may choose to wear helmets where possible, reducing the impact of blows to the ear. A well-fitting helmet is crucial.
One that is too loose can result in shifting, potentially making the problem worse. A loose helmet can also fall off at inopportune moments. Some rugby players wear a band around the ears, but their effectiveness is debatable. In some sports, such as in high-level boxing and wrestling, this is not possible. For these sports, rapid treatment of blunt-force trauma to the ear can prevent a cauliflower ear from forming. Untreated, a cauliflower ear is usually harmless.
Those who leave it untreated generally do not experience ill effects. However, one preliminary study published in the Asian Journal of Sports Medicine showed that wrestlers with cauliflower ears are more likely to suffer from hearing loss. This, the authors suggested, could be because of the risk of infection is greater or because the swelling physically blocks the ears. Cauliflower ear can cause practical issues, such as difficulty wearing headphones and problems with wax removal from the ear.
Consequently, those with a cauliflower ear may experience more ear infections than others. When treated quickly, a cauliflower ear can be cured. This process often takes a couple of days. The longer the cauliflower ear is left to develop, the longer it takes to resolve, and it may require reconstructive surgery if left too long.
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