Cauliflower Ear

CAULIFLOWER EAR

• Cauliflower ear (boxer’s ear, wrestler’s ear) is an acquired deformity of the outer ear.
• In this injury, the ear can shrivel up and fold in on itself and appear pale, giving it a cauliflower-like appearance, hence the term cauliflower ear.
• Wrestlers, boxers and martial artists in particular are susceptible to this type of injury.
• When the external portion of ear is hit and develops a blood clot or other collection of fluid under the  perichondrium.
• This separates the cartilage from the overlying perichondrium that supplies its nutrients, causing necrosis and resulting in the formation of fibrous tissue in the overlying skin. As a result, the outer ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed, resembling a cauliflower.
• Failure to evacuate the Auricular hematoma may lead to cartilage necrosis and permanent disfigurement known as “cauliflower ear.”