Case report of auricular avulsion injury, repair, and adjunctive treatment
Case report published in Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc (2026)
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this case report is to present an 11-year-old male patient who sustained a partial avulsion injury of the left ear involving the helix, anti-helix, and scapha, along with initial management and adjunctive treatments throughout the patient's course in the hospital. CASE REPORT: Traumatic ear avulsion is an uncommon injury that poses unique surgical challenges, as there is no standard of care for its management. The viability of the avulsed tissue is of paramount concern given its small vasculature and limited perfusion. Some techniques used in ear avulsion injuries include microvascular reconstruction, the pocket technique, and direct reattachment. Ear avulsion injuries require a multidisciplinary approach to achieve optimal patient outcomes. DISCUSSION: This case report demonstrates the effectiveness of multiple adjunctive treatments in optimizing revascularization and viability of previously avulsed tissue, resulting in better short-term outcomes and a more favorable long-term prognosis.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
The objective of this case report is to present an 11-year-old male patient who sustained a partial avulsion injury of the left ear involving the helix, anti-helix, and scapha, along with initial management and adjunctive treatments throughout the patient's course in the hospital.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This case report presents an 11-year-old male with partial avulsion of the left ear (helix, anti-helix, scapha), describing initial management and adjunctive treatments aimed at optimizing revascularization and tissue viability. The abstract references multiple adjunctive treatments but does not specifically name leech therapy among them. Caveat: the abstract does not explicitly mention leeches or hirudotherapy, so any direct relevance to ASH's domain is uncertain; this is a single case report without a control group, and without confirmation that leech therapy was used, its connection to hirudotherapy cannot be established from the abstract alone.
Citation
Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026