Utility of Thiersh Skin Graft for Repairing External Auditory Canal Skin Defect after Benign Tumor Resection

TU Bo; LU Jun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2013.02.025

Abstract： Objective To study the feasibility and long-term efficacy of Thiersh skin graft for repairing extensive skin de-fect after external auditory canal tumor resection. Method Data from 31 cases (40 ears) of external auditory canal tumor treat-ed by our department from October 2009 to November 2012 were reviewed. Pathological types included:papilloma (n=22), ex-ostosis (n=5), ceruminoma (n=2) and cholesteatoma (n=11). Twenty patients with circumferential defect below 1/2 ring were randomly divided into two groups (A and B, n=10 in each group), and 20 patients with circumferential defect over 1/2 ring were also randomly divided into two groups (A1 and B1, n=10 in each group). Patients in Groups A and A1 received repair with the Thiersh skin graft, while defects in those in Groups B and B1 were allowed to heal by themselves without Thiersh skin graft. Result The interval to complete epithelization was 17 ± 1.56 days in Group A (with a 100%rate of healing), 27.60 ± 1.71 days in Group B (with a 70%rate of healing). 18.30 ± 4.32 days in Group A1 (with a 100%rate of healing ), and 34.60 ± 3.34 days in Group B1 (with a 60%rate of healing). The differences in epithelization time between Groups A and B and between A1 and B1 were statistically significant. No recurrence of external auditory canal mass or stenosis occurred during the 6-29 months fol-low up in Groups A and A1. Conclusion Thiersh skin graft provides consistent advantage in repair of skin defect after external auditory canal tumor resection, with greatly shortened healing time.