Question
How much does congenital preauricular fistula surgery cost?
Answer
The excision of a preauricular fistula is typically performed under regional anesthesia and costs about 1,000 yuan. This surgery is a common method for treating congenital preauricular fistulas, which are caused by improper fusion of the small hillock-like nodules of the first and second branchial arches during the embryonic development of the ear. A fistula is a blind tube that can have branches and curves, with its external opening usually located above the antihelix. The lumen is covered with stratified squamous epithelium and sometimes exudes a small amount of sticky sebaceous material. If the fistula becomes infected, it may present with redness, swelling, pain, and purulent symptoms, which can recur. This condition is an incomplete dominant genetic disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Individuals without symptoms do not require treatment, but those with infection should undergo anti-infection therapy. When abscesses form, incision and drainage should be considered, and after healing, surgical excision of the fistula should be considered.