The efficacy of magnetic disks for the treatment of earlobe hypertrophic scar

Abstract

Ear piercing has been widely performed for various reasons, but it may cause hypertrophic scarring and its attendant cosmetic problems and/or subjective symptoms, such as pruritus or pain. Many treatment methods have been applied alone or in combination, including surgical excision, steroid injection, compression, radiation, topical silicone application, and so on. Although each modality or combined therapy has its advantages and disadvantages, in the authors' opinion, compressive therapy combined with surgical excision is the most effective method in many respects. However, the peculiar shape of the earlobe does not allow for easy compression. Thus, many compressive devices have been developed that are not wholly satisfactory in terms of effectiveness, appearance, size, or convenience. The authors describe a newly developed method for the treatment of hypertrophic scarring of the earlobe that uses magnetic disks. They treated 47 patients (91 auricles) with a hypertrophic scar on the earlobe that underwent compressive therapy using magnetic disks after surgical excision from April to December 2002. The use of magnetic disks proved effective, and they believe that it offers many advantages as a compressive device.