Ear dressings post pinnaplasty

Should the duration of head bandaging be reduced after pinnaplasty? A systematic review

“…The RCT and comparative studies have small sample sizes, are not blinded and do not make any concealment of group allocation. 11 However, in these studies it is clear that the use of head bandages for a shorter period after pinnaplasty does not affect the complication rate when compared with the standard 7-10 day head bandage. 9 Orabi et al compared a larger group of patients cared for by four different surgeons to those assigned to a single surgeon and referred to this as 'quasi' randomisation.…”

“…Ramkumar et al reported results for 11 patients who did not actually receive the treatment to which they were randomised. Head bandage slippage is also a problem: as many as 50 per cent of patients with head bandages for 7-10 days return to hospital at least once for its reapplication, 11 although this is not included as a complication in the reviewed articles. 10 The cohort study reported by Self et al was incompletely reported, and the case series had few participants.…”

“…The cohort study reported by Self et al . was incompletely reported, and the case series had few participants 11 …”

“…Nonetheless, clinical experience tells us that patients often find head bandages uncomfortable. Head bandage slippage is also a problem: as many as 50 per cent of patients with head bandages for 7–10 days return to hospital at least once for its re-application, 11 although this is not included as a complication in the reviewed articles. Reports of rare, but nonetheless serious, complications such as cartilage necrosis and pressure sores continue to support the argument against the use of a standard head bandage.…”