Physicians and physician extenders are increasingly expected to perform a variety of minor surgical procedures in both elective and emergency situations. Surgical repair of the torn ear lobe, hitherto the realm of plastic surgeons, is a procedure that can be performed both at the office and the emergency room, thereby sparing patients the inconvenience and cost of referral to a sub-specialist.
The increasing practice of ear piercing by both females and, of late, males as well, has resulted in more and more requests for ear lobe repairs, either for inadvertent tears of the lobule produced by a tug on the ear ring or for traction deformities occasioned by the long-standing use of heavy jewelry on the ear, as is commonly seen in the African and Asian sub-continents. Furthermore, over the past decade the United States has seen an unprecedented influx of immigrants, making a practitioner’s patient profile more cosmopolitan. Ear lobe repairs are an outpatient procedure, and, provided the basic surgical principle of asepsis is adhered to, an excellent cosmetic result can be achieved. The time taken for the procedure, averages 30 minutes.
