Perichondritis with or without external otitis and intradermal injection: a new therapeutic approach

• Published in: Journal of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 38; no. 5; p. 568
• Main Authors: Savastano, Marina, Ferraro, Silvia M, Marioni, Gino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Cartilage Diseases - complications; Cartilage Diseases - drug therapy; Ear Auricle; Female; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Humans; Injections, Intradermal; Otitis Externa - complications; Otitis Externa - drug therapy; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - drug therapy
• ISSN: 1916-0216
• DOI: 10.2310/7070.2009.080199

Auricular perichondritis and fiogosis of the external auditory canal are not uncommon pathology of the ear. These inflammatory processes are often accompanied by reactive locoregional lymphadenopathy. An inadequate or insufficient systemic therapy may lead to the persistence of otalgia and of signs of flogosis. The administration of local intradermaltherapy allows a strengthening of the pharmacological effect and a reduction in the quantity of drug used. It provides a rapid improvement in the locoregional signs of infection.Intradermal injection is performed on two pretragral points, two retroauricular points and one in the posterior surface of the pinna. The drugs injected are corticosteroids and antibiotics.The administration of intradermal therapy in the cases presented gave excellent results: control of pain, rapid improvement in the signs of infection, complete recovery from the flogosis, no side-effects.The intradermal lijection of small quantities of drugs allows a rapid and complete recovery from external otitis while the systemic approach leads often to the persistence of the flogosis.