A technique for auricular keloid core excision using a skin biopsy punch.

Background: Keloids of the auricular region, resulting from ear piercing or external injury, are a common cosmetic problem. Surgical treatment followed by conservative management often is needed. The "hollowing out method for keloids of the auricle" retains the skin over the keloid lesion to minimize tension on the wound. This is considered to be the appropriate surgical treatment method, but skill is required to remove the keloid and retain the skin with a uniform thickness and appropriate form.

Material And Methods: Four patients with auricle keloids were included in this study. All the patients were females between the ages of 18 and 29 years (average age, 24.8 years). Keloid core excision using a skin biopsy punch with the patient under local anesthesia was performed for all the patients.

Results: Use of a skin biopsy punch resulted in a shorter operating time without causing ear deformity.

Conclusion: The authors report a technique for keloid core excision using a skin biopsy punch and believe it is a useful method

Level Of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors at www.springer.com/00266.