An innovative, cost-effective, pressure-relieving device for burned ears

Cosmetic disfigurement is a common result of facial burn injuries. Next to judicious wound care and timely wound closure, the application of pressure to maturing facial scars is a key factor in minimizing disfigurement. This is not true for ear burns, where pressure is contraindicated at all phases of recovery, thus making it mandatory to provide pressure-relief over the ears throughout rehabilitation. Though such a need has been understood since long ago, the availability of such a device is very rare in any developing nation. Moreover the cost of such splints is too expensive. This report presents an innovative idea to protect the ear with a low-cost splinting technique.