How do cauliflower ear

If your ear is injured, the blood vessels that supple blood to the ear cartilage can tear, causing blood to pool up between the cartilage and the perichondrium. The perichondrium is the connective tissue that surrounds the cartilage, and is important for transportation of blood and nutrients to the cartilage.

This leads to infection and death of the tissue. Once that happens, new fibrous tissue can form around the area, creating a cauliflower texture on your ear. Anyone who is at risk for trauma to their head and ears is at risk for cauliflower ear. According to board-certified plastic surgeon Manish H. Ice the injury as quickly as possible.

You can do this by applying ice for minute intervals. That will help reduce the swelling and may prevent cauliflower ear. You should also seek medical treatment right away. Your doctor may be able to treat the condition by draining the excess blood from your ear.

They do this by making an incision at the site of the injury so that the blood can drain out of the injury.

After draining your ear, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infection. Your doctor will also place a compression dressing on your ear to ensure that it heals in the correct shape. Ask your doctor when you can resume normal activities. Cauliflower ear is permanent, but in some cases, you may be able to reverse the appearance using corrective surgery, known as otoplasty. During the surgery, your doctor makes a cut behind your ear to expose the cartilage.

Your doctor then either removes some of the cartilage or uses stitches to reshape your ear. You may need general anesthetic for the surgery, but in some cases, a local anesthetic can be used. You should be able to resume physical activities within six weeks, though your doctor may recommend waiting longer.

The best prevention for cauliflower ear is to prevent the trauma in the first place. If you participate in high-risk sports, such as wrestling, wear a helmet to protect yourself.

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. These blows can damage the shape and structure of the outside of the ear. For cauliflower ear to form, the ear has to be struck hard enough for a large blood clot lump of blood to develop under the skin. Another way cauliflower ear can happen is when the ear's skin is stripped away from the cartilage , the flexible material that gives a normal ear its shape.

This cartilage needs oxygen and nutrients carried by the flow of blood. A tear, severe bruise , or blood clot can block the blood flow. If that happens, the cartilage can die. 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. What Causes Cauliflower Ear? Need help scheduling an appointment at Nationwide Children's? Request an Appointment or Get a Second Opinion. What Are the Symptoms? Localized swelling and redness.