Ring tube M95.10

Damage to the cartilage of the ear with remaining scarring deformation due to constant traumatisation of the auricle in people who practice sports (wrestlers, boxers, etc.) where blunt traumatisation occurs regularly.

The ringing ear is the result of violent impacts such as blows, squeezing or sharp bending of the auricle. Affected are especially people who practice sports like judo, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), rugby, wrestling, boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA).

Recurrent trauma with intrachondral bleeding, possibly with cartilage splitting. Later transition of the bleeding into calcifications.

In rare cases, "cauliflower ears" can occur in the context of recurrent polychondritis (Mohan V et al. 2017).

Avoidance of recurrent traumatisation by wearing earmuffs during martial arts. These are comfortable to wear, can be adjusted in size and have partly integrated hollows for the ear cups so that a high wearing comfort is given.

If necessary, operative correction by plastic surgeons.

1. Manninen IK et al (2019) Cauliflower ear among Finnish high-level male wrestlers and judokas is prevalent and symptomatic deformity.Scand J Med Sci Sports doi: 10.1111/sms.13530.

2. Mohan V et al (2017) Calcified cauliflower ear in relapsing polychondritis.
   BMJ Case Rep 2017. pii: bcr-2017-219424.