Merocel compression dressing: a novel modified surgical technique for treating auricular pseudocyst

Purpose Auricular pseudocyst (AP) is a benign, noninflammatory swelling to the ear, located on either the front or side surface. Deroofing surgery with variable compression methods is considered the most effective method. However, post-operative wound pain is the main drawback following compression. We are introducing a novel painless surgical procedure which involves deroofing technique followed by Merocel (R) compression dressing. Methods From 2015 to 2020, thirty-one patients with AP received this new surgical compression method in our university-affiliated tertiary hospital. Retrospective chart review and the analysis of the results were conducted. Results All patients had unilateral lesions, with left side lesions (58.1%) predominant. The concha cymba (38.7%) and concha cavum (35.8%) were the most common sites. Previous aspiration or drainage had been performed for the cysts in eight patients (25.8%). Only one patient had the recurrence after post-operative 3 months and received the revised surgery without following recurrence and discomfort. Among all patients, 29 (93.5%) patients claimed minimal pain around 0 or 1 in numeric rating scale of pain score. Three patients had mild ecchymosis but recovered after conservative treatment. One patient had mild auricular deformity after surgery due to pre-treatment partial cartilage necrosis. All patients had follow-up for at least 6 months. Conclusion This novel Merocel (R) compression dressing technique to treat AP after deroofing is an effective procedure. Minimal pain, simple to do and easily acquired materials were the advantages of this novel procedure.