ER: the Ear

So. Let's start with the pictures first.  So +1 to this place, they make ALL their patients sign a waver as they register that we can take pictures of them for teaching purposes. So that means I can totally take pictures of anyone!!

So here is one of my most interesting cases.

32yo M presents with ear pain after altercation.  Pt states was drinking at bar and taking the keys from his husband of 14months. Pt states that his husband got mad at him and had been having some psych issues including bipolar and testosterone shots.  Out of no where, he leaned over and bit his ear off.  That's right savagely, with his teeth, bit his ear off. You can see down to his skull in the top there, down that large hole. The amount of ear left is actually very tiny and dripping blood.  The crazy facts I learned during this case is that human bites tend to be dirtier (aka more infections) and more savage tissue damage than animal bites. Look at there photos.

So what happened?  So we found the ear after scouring his car and finding it between the seat and the console. (yeah never knew that was in the job description did ya?)  And the plastics people came out and said the skin was dead, but they would use the cartelige to rebuild the ear and then add a skin graft.  The problem was the plastics guys were telling me that his ear would never actually look normal.  Also, he pressed charges against his husband, whose call he took while I was cleaning it out. Apparently he was complaining that police officers were going to arrest him and when he refused to drop charges, told the cops that the patient was 'beating him.'   Ridiculous.  I bet $50 tho that they didn't divorce, because he took his call.... twice.  Some people don't learn.