Question
I’ve been injected with an antibiotic into my preauricular fistula for a month. What are the potential risks and damage it may cause? Are there any treatment methods other than medication?
Answer
A preauricular fistula is a common congenital malformation that patients usually only notice when they feel itchy in the area. Sometimes, gently squeezing around the small hole may result in some white, slightly smelly discharge. The usual treatment for a preauricular fistula involves excision surgery under regional anesthesia. The surgical plan is determined based on the structure and branches of the fistula as identified during the operation using methylene blue dye, deciding whether it should be a single, thorough excision or a staged procedure. If the patient does not properly care for the fistula and it becomes inflamed again, it may be necessary to perform incision and drainage along with regional dressing changes until the infection is controlled and the wound heals, after which surgery can be considered.