Congenital auricular fistula has been described under various names, such as fistula auriculae congenita, fistula preauricularis congenita, fistula auris congenita and sinus preauricularis.
The fistula in most cases is manifested by a small pinhead鈥攕ized dimple which usually occurs on the inferior portion of the ascending limb of the helix but may be found anywhere about the external ear. The external opening is frequently filled with a keratotic plug which is adherent and may resemble a blackhead. The depth of the sinus is usually 1 to 3 mm., but Sch眉ller1 reported a case in which it was 22 mm. It is seldom that symptoms develop, but the sinuses may give rise to an offensive discharge, may become closed off with the development of a retention cyst or may become infected and cause pain and swelling.
Congenital auricular fistula was first described by Heusinger2 in 1864, and since that time