A retrospective study of 50 patients (25 male, 25 female) suffering fr
om chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica is presented. There was equal
distribution between male and female, with the nodule being situated o
n the helix in 36 cases (23 male, 13 female), and on the antihelix in
18 cases (4 male, 14 female). Four patients had bilateral lesions. All
the patients complained of severe pain in the affected ear when they
slept on it at night. Of the 54 ears in this study, 23 had undergone p
revious surgery for the complaint. These recurrences occurred when eit
her skin alone, or a disproportionately large piece of skin relative t
o cartilage, was excised. A treatment technique is described involving
minimal skin excision combined with extensive cartilage resection. Th
ere has been no recurrence following our technique and postoperative d
eformity has been minimal.