Release: Embargoed until September 24, 2000 Contact: Jennifer Felsher202-371-4517 (9/23-27)703-519-1549[email protected]
EAR PIERCING NO LONGER A PAIN
Technique gives nickle hypersensitive individuals freedom to pierce
Washington, DC -- Almost all women in the United States wear pierced earrings; most of those that do not, have a metal hypersensitivity.
Now, Pennsylvania medical researchers have developed a technique of ear piercing and earring retention that permits hypersensitive individuals to wear earrings in pierced lobes. The procedure entails the insertion of a catheter shaft to use over earring posts.
The authors of the study, "Ear Piercing for Individuals with Metal Hypersensitivity" are Anthony J. Cornetta, MD and David Reiter, MD, DMD, both from the Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. They will present findings on Wednesday, September 27th, 2000, at the Annual Meeting/Oto Expo of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.
Ear piercing is thought to be a relatively innocuous procedure that can be performed in a variety of non-clinical settings. However, complications occur in more than one third of ear piercings regardless of who carries out the procedure. Metal hypersensitivity, a fairly common complication, is ten times more likely to occur in women. The study relied on patient outcome data to support the findings of zero complications and occasional wear of earrings containing a known allergen.
Methodology: Thirty-one patients, all female, with a known history of metal hypersensitivity underwent ear piercing of the soft tissue in a clinical setting. All lobes were more than 4mm in thickness and had no scarring from recurrent infections.
Both the anterior and posterior of each ear were prepped with isopropyl alcohol. After marking the location with sterile pen, a lidocaine/epinephrine solution was injected by needle. An intravenous infusion catheter was then inserted through the anterior aspect of the earlobe in a slightly downward direction. The catheter was then cut to protrude 1-2 mm on each side of the earlobe. An earring stud of 14K gold (or higher) or stainless steel was inserted in each ear after having been soaked in isopropyl alcohol for 15 minutes. The catheter-stud and earring sets remained in place for one month.
Patients were advised to clean the earlobes daily and use antibiotic ointment for the first week. After one month, the catheter-studs were replaced with Coren(tm) stainless steel studs. Patients were provided with several catheter-studs to use over their earring posts for the next six months.
Results: All patients were able to wear nickle-free earrings without using the catheter-studs. No patients reported complications, including infection or hypersensitivity. Eighteen patients were still in contact after two years and none of them reported any complications.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated that inserting a catheter in support of ear piercing proved to be safe, quick and uncomplicated. The catheter-post as a sheath for the earring post allowed hypersensitive individuals to wear earrings containing a known allergen in pierced ears on a limited basis (depending on individual hypersensitivity level) .
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For additional information regarding this research study or an interview with the authors, contact Ken Satterfield or Jennifer Felsher at 202-371-4517
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