Random Thought Thread

fnordmorph said:
usual way is to take 4x4 gauze and fold it in a triangle, lay a bunch of these behind the ear with the 90 angle on the triangle pointing away from the ear, put some gauze over the top kind of molded to the inside of the pinna, and do a turban wrap around the head. Its pretty annoying. The point is to support the pinna away from the skull in a normal position and still put pressure on the ear. I'll see if i can find a diagram.
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I can see what you're saying. They didn't discuss doing anything like that but I can see how it would work.

To be honest, inside the pinna is easy to place the petrolatum gauze, and even to fit some gauze or material to hold it in place. The back of the ear where the other laceration / hole is, is harder to secure mostly because either the tape has a hard time sticking due to vaseline residue or hair or whatever.

But it's working so far.

I even used a portion of a cotton dental roll to hold the position in the pinna. Worked well, but regular gauze does as well.
 
Don’t laugh, but maybe bend a small binder clip open to the point it’s not applying much pressure, but will hold it all together? Might not be able to sleep on it, but I’d think that might be a decent option during the day. 🤷‍♂️
 
SpyderPhreak said:
Don’t laugh, but maybe bend a small binder clip open to the point it’s not applying much pressure, but will hold it all together? Might not be able to sleep on it, but I’d think that might be a decent option during the day. 🤷‍♂️
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No, won't work. The ear is extremely sensitive from the swelling, the sutures, the trauma etc. I'm lucky I can work on it without causing her too much discomfort.

She's actually sitting next to me as I type and she's told me it's a lot more comfortable than what they did at urgent care. And so far it's still in place.
So, not going to push my luck at the moment.
 
Blues said:
Thanks, B. Wish they would have given me some of that. I got some, gauze, tape and Xeroform petrolatum dressing to use until we have a follow-up in a couple of days.

Not bitching about the job they did at urgent care, the folks were nice and the suture job inside the pinna was really clean. I was surprised that there was enough meat to suture. My wife is very lean...not that anyone has fat ears in general.

Anyway, it's a friggin' Rube Goldberg project on my end. But it's holding so far.
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Holding the xeroform in place while not putting too much pressure on the suture sites is key. With the diagram getting posted for you, and your common sense, I am confident the dressing will be sufficient.
 
SpyderPhreak said:
Don’t laugh, but maybe bend a small binder clip open to the point it’s not applying much pressure, but will hold it all together? Might not be able to sleep on it, but I’d think that might be a decent option during the day. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
Might work? Seems like getting the spring tension just right (enough pressure to keep blood from expanding the pinna and causing cauliflower ear but not so much as to cause pressure necrosis) would be hard with that stiff of a spring... hair clips might be closer to the right tension. If what you have is holding it a little pressure on it, not moving, not uncomfortable, you may be good as you are.
 
Blues said:
No, won't work. The ear is extremely sensitive from the swelling, the sutures, the trauma etc. I'm lucky I can work on it without causing her too much discomfort.

She's actually sitting next to me as I type and she's told me it's a lot more comfortable than what they did at urgent care. And so far it's still in place.
So, not going to push my luck at the moment.
Click to expand...
fnordmorph said:
Might work? Seems like getting the spring tension just right (enough pressure to keep blood from expanding the pinna and causing cauliflower ear but not so much as to cause pressure necrosis) would be hard with that stiff of a spring... hair clips might be closer to the right tension. If what you have is holding it a little pressure on it, not moving, not uncomfortable, you may be good as you are.
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Yeah, not an easy fix. I thought hair clip or even maybe some kind of chip clip, but both are a lot bulkier and might be subject to flopping around. Here’s another thought; what about one of those padded aluminum finger splints? Easy enough to bend to shape, and should stay put.
 
beeinak said:
Holding the xeroform in place while not putting too much pressure on the suture sites is key. With the diagram getting posted for you, and your common sense, I am confident the dressing will be sufficient.
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The sutures are only on the inside...the outer pinna alongside the skull, (where I didn't realize originally it had made it''s way all the way through), appears to be healing up well.

If you guys want, we can do a DM with images just for the medical professionals in this discussion.
 
fnordmorph said:
usual way is to take 4x4 gauze and fold it in a triangle, lay a bunch of these behind the ear with the 90 angle on the triangle pointing away from the ear, put some gauze over the top kind of molded to the inside of the pinna, and do a turban wrap around the head. Its pretty annoying. The point is to support the pinna away from the skull in a normal position and still put pressure on the ear. I'll see if i can find a diagram.
Click to expand...
This is what I’d recommend. Not too difficult for the average person.
 
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