(A) Place sterile gauze with a central cut out to provide padding behind the ear.
(B) Mold petrolatum-impregnated gauze or saline-soaked cotton balls within the contours of the auricle. If the skin was incised, this portion of the dressing needs to reapproximate the skin at the incision site.
(C) Place sterile gauze over the entire ear.
(D) Wrap the ear and head with sterile, rolled gauze to hold the dressing in place.
Reproduced with permission from: Martinez NJ, Friedman MJ. External ear procedures. In: Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Procedures, 2nd Edition, King C, Henretig FM (Eds), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2008. Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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