• Reference Number: HEY1461-2024
• Departments: Paediatrics
• Last Updated: 11 October 2024

United by compassion: driving for excellence

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give parents information and advice following an Otoplasty. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your Child’s Doctor.  If after reading it, you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for your child.

Your Child’s Consultant is_______________________

Surgery Performed By__________________________

Should you need any further help or advice please telephone

Acorn Ward, Women and Children’s Hospital, HRI,

Telephone: (01482) 382609 or 382679.

Or contact the Paediatric Community Team Telephone (01482) 344075

Follow Up 

• A wound check will be needed approximately one week after the surgery. The Community Paediatric Team will be informed and will contact you to make an appointment.
• An appointment is usually needed to be seen by the consultant/surgeon in clinic. This will be arranged for you and sent in the post.

School 

• Your child can return to school one week after the bandages have been removed.
• Your child should not undertake PE, games, sport or swimming until the bruising and any remaining swelling has subsided.
• If you feel that your child needs a little longer to recover we are happy for you to use your personal judgement

After the Surgery 

• The bandages are tight to protect the new shape of the ears.
• It is important that the bandages remain in place.
• If it slips or becomes loose during the night please contact the Acorn Ward.
• As the area heals there may be an aching or itching sensation. It is important that your child does not poke any fingers under the bandages as this may cause infection.
• It is not unusual for either ear to be uncomfortable first thing in the morning, especially if your child has slept on a particular side.
• Giving the appropriate pain relief will settle the discomfort.
• For about a month following the removal of the bandages, it is advisable to wear a headband during the night to prevent the ears becoming accidentally folded over during sleep.
• Hair washing and brushing should be gentle as the ears remain bruised for several weeks.

Pain Relief 

• During the surgery it is usual for some local anaesthetic to be used, which will help with pain relief after surgery.
• We recommend that for the first 24-48 hours a suitable form of analgesia is given regularly if needed e.g. Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. This should be the appropriate dose for weight and age.
• Ibuprofen may not be suitable for asthmatics.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats your child, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to your child. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your child’s condition, the alternatives available for your child, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about your child

We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, information about your child will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your child’s doctor, or the person caring for your child.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you need information about your child’s (or a child you care for) health and wellbeing and their care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.