Cauliflower ear is a deformity that can occur following ear trauma. It’s common among boxers, wrestlers and martial artists, but it can happen to anyone who sustains an injury to their outer ear. To reduce your risk for permanent damage, prompt treatment is key.
Cauliflower ear (wrestler’s ear, auricular hematoma) is a condition that can happen after blunt force trauma to your ear. It causes your ear to look lumpy and deformed.
The skin covering your ear carries blood to the cartilage underneath. When you sustain an ear injury, your skin can separate from the cartilage that gives your ear its shape. When this happens, it disrupts the blood supply, resulting in a hematoma (pocket of blood). As the injury heals, your ear folds in on itself, giving it a shriveled, cauliflower-like appearance. In addition to ear deformity, you could also end up with infections or hearing loss.
Despite the health complications that can arise from cauliflower ear, many combat athletes consider it a badge of honor in their chosen sport. Only you can make decisions for your body. But if you’re thinking about getting a cauliflower ear on purpose, it’s important to know the risks.
Even though cauliflower ear is most common among athletes, anyone can get it. The best rule of thumb is to seek immediate treatment any time you have an ear injury.
Experts aren’t sure how common cauliflower ear is among the general population. But they know it’s extremely common among combat athletes like boxers, wrestlers, martial artists and anyone who participates in contact sports. One Finnish study reported that 96% of national-champion-level martial artists experienced at least one symptom of cauliflower ear.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
If you have cauliflower ear, you might experience a range of symptoms like:
The main cause of cauliflower ear is blunt force trauma. When an ear injury occurs, the blood vessels that supply nutrients to your cartilage can tear. This causes blood to accumulate between your cartilage and your perichondrium. (The perichondrium surrounds your cartilage and is made of connective tissue.)
If your ear loses its blood supply, your cartilage no longer receives the nutrients it needs. As a result, tissue death (necrosis) occurs. At this point, new cartilage and scar tissue forms. But it’s typically lumpy, deformed and asymmetrical, resulting in a cauliflower-like appearance. Experts aren’t exactly sure why the new cartilage grows back lumpy and deformed.
Advertisement
The main complications of cauliflower ear are:
If your ear becomes infected, you may develop additional complications like:
Your healthcare provider can diagnose cauliflower ear during a physical examination of your head and neck. They’ll also need to find out if you have other health issues related to blunt force trauma to your ear. To do this, they’ll:
Your healthcare provider may also take a CT scan to check for head trauma.
Advertisement
Cauliflower ear treatments may include:
If you undergo treatment quickly, you may not even develop cauliflower ear. That’s why it’s best to see a healthcare provider right away. In the meantime, ice your ear to minimize pain and swelling.
Some people attempt to drain their own cauliflower ear using a syringe. There are a couple of problems with this. First, your ear may become infected. This can lead to even more issues. Second, simply draining the fluid from your ear does nothing to keep your ear compressed. As a result, the pocket created by the hematoma just keeps filling up repeatedly. This is why so many people have recurring issues with cauliflower ear.
If you get an injury that leads to cauliflower ear, you should seek medical care immediately. For best results, healthcare providers prefer to complete treatment within the first six hours.
Your recovery timeline can vary, depending on:
For incision and draining, most people recover in about two weeks. If you’ve undergone cosmetic surgery for cauliflower ear, healing time usually takes about four weeks. Your healthcare provider can tell you what to expect in your specific situation.
Yes, you can prevent cauliflower ear by wearing appropriate headgear while playing contact sports. Be sure you purchase headgear that fits properly.
Cauliflower ear won’t go away on its own. If you undergo treatment quickly, you’ll likely recover without complications. However, recurrence (return) is common with cauliflower ear. This happens when the pocket between your skin and cartilage fills up with fluid.
Unless you treat it, the deformity usually becomes permanent in about seven to 10 days. The edge of your ear may even flop over due to dying cartilage.
Prompt treatment reduces your risk for permanent deformity. In the meantime, ice your ear as quickly as possible. Apply the compress for 15 minutes, wait 15 minutes, then ice it again. Continue this until you see a healthcare provider.
If you sustained an injury to your ear, you should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. This may help you avoid permanent disfigurement or deformity. Call your primary care physician or head to your nearest emergency room.
Even if your ear injury doesn’t seem serious, you should visit a healthcare provider.
If you have cauliflower ear, here are some questions you might want to ask your healthcare provider:
The initial impact or blow to your ear can be quite painful. Many people find that discomfort and swelling subside over the next few days. But pain may continue, especially if your ear becomes infected.
If you’re a combat athlete, you probably know about cauliflower ear. You might even be hoping for one yourself. It’s usually treatable, but it can lead to other health conditions, too, like frequent ear infections or hearing loss. Even if your injury seems harmless, it’s still important to let a healthcare provider know.
Last reviewed on 08/09/2024.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy