A Curious Case of Ear Necrosis Salvaged by a Composite Temporalis Flap: Conchal Cartilage Graft Reconstruction

Hemangiomas are commonly encountered benign vascular tumors in clinical practice. They are easily diagnosed clinically, but it is essential to know atypical and rare varieties of these tumors to avoid confusing them with vascular malformations. The traditional approach in managing hemangiomas has been a “wait and watch” policy as most of these lesions undergo spontaneous regression with time. There are multiple treatment modalities in managing these lesions, but with specific indications for each of them. We report a case of Nicolau syndrome following injection sclerotherapy for a residual ear hemangioma, which lead to necrosis and total loss of skin and cartilage. However, the full-thickness defect in the ear was restored with a composite temporalis fascial flap, conchal cartilage graft, and split skin graft reconstruction. A detailed literature review of the presentation and management of this vascular tumor is discussed with a special emphasis on avoiding complications and maximizing patient outcomes.