Using paper clips to make simple, effective, and accessible auricular compression devices

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 2023-03, Vol.280 (3), p.1155-1159
• Main Authors: Wu, Yongfang, Nong, Fengjin, Xiong, Tingfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Otology; Otorhinolaryngology; Postoperative Complications; Pressure
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07591-5

Purpose To investigate the early compression effects of adjustable pressure auricular clips, made of paper clips, during auricular surgery. Methods 24 patients who underwent auricular surgery between August 2021 and April 2022 were selected as the study participants. Doctors used ear clips made of paper clips to prevent postoperative complications in these patients. Results In all 24 patients, the wounds healed by stage I. Except for one case of minor local hematoma, all wounds healed well with no postoperative complications, such as subcutaneous hematoma formation, ulceration, or infected skin necrosis. Moreover, doctors were able to operate in lesser time and more conveniently with the help of the paper-clip devices. Conclusions This study proposes, for the first time, the use of paper clips to make ear clips with adjustable pressure. This simple device is easy to manufacture, inexpensive to the user, reliable in performance, and remarkable in its clinical effects. As such, the present study provides substantial evidence to suggest that this device should be widely applied in the clinical setting.