Gentamicin ointment versus petrolatum for management of auricular wounds.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Surgeons frequently create defects on the ear in the treatment of cutaneous malignancies. Potentially significant complications of second-intention healing on the ear are suppurative and inflammatory chondritis. Consequently, many physicians advocate the use of oral or topical prophylactic antibiotics after auricular surgery.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of gentamicin ointment with that of petrolatum for the prevention of suppurative chondritis during second-intention healing of auricular wounds after Mohs surgery.

METHODS:

One hundred forty-two patients with a total of 147 second-intention wounds were prospectively selected to receive either gentamicin ointment or petrolatum postoperatively.

RESULTS:

One hundred forty-four wounds were evaluated in a follow-up examination or by telephone interview. Eight (5.56%) wounds developed suppurative chondritis. Four wounds received gentamicin and four received petrolatum, for incidences of 4.76% and 6.67%, respectively. Twelve (8.33%) other wounds developed inflammatory chondritis. Ten (11.90%) received gentamicin and two (3.33%) received petrolatum.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is no statistically significant difference between the use of gentamicin ointment and petrolatum in the prevention of postoperative auricular suppurative chondritis. The data also demonstrate a disproportionate number of cases of inflammatory chondritis in the gentamicin-treated group. This study supports the cost-effective and potentially less irritating use of petrolatum for wound care in this difficult to manage area.

• Authors: Ross M Campbell, Clifford S Perlis, Emily Fisher, Hugh M Gloster Jr
• Journal: Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] (Dermatol Surg) Vol. 31 Issue 6 Pg. 664-9 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 1076-0512 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15996417 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Emollients
• Gentamicins
• Petrolatum

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antibiotic Prophylaxis
• Carcinoma, Basal Cell (surgery)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (surgery)
• Cartilage Diseases (prevention & control)
• Ear Neoplasms (surgery)
• Emollients (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gentamicins (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Mohs Surgery
• Petrolatum (therapeutic use)
• Prospective Studies
• Skin Neoplasms (surgery)
• Wound Healing