Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41998811›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2026

Ear Piercing Complications: Comparing Cartilage and Soft Tissue Piercings in a Large Survey Cohort.

John P Ziegler, Nitin A Pagedar, McKay Moline, Kathryn Marcus, Zachary G Tanenbaum, Henry T Hoffman, Scott R Owen

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Laryngoscope, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

John P ZieglerDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1678-2321
Nitin A PagedarDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1829-7258
McKay MolineColorado West Otolaryngologists, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA.
Kathryn MarcusMassachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4284-5792
Zachary G TanenbaumDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Henry T HoffmanDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4486-855X
Scott R OwenDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

Funding

Viral VectorP30CA086862 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI Douglas Robert Spitz · 2000 to 2026
$70.0M
University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational ScienceUM1TR004403 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI Marlan R Hansen, Patricia Winokur · 2023 to 2026
$16.1M
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Supported in part by NIH/NCI P30CA086862Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa UM1TR004403NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR004403NCI NIH HHS P30 CA086862
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo compare complication and removal rates between cartilage and lobule ear piercings in a large adult population.

methodsAn anonymous electronic survey was distributed to all individuals with a University of Iowa email address. Respondents reported demographic characteristics, piercing site, age at piercing, technique, personnel, and specific complications. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated complication and removal rates between cartilage and lobule sites.

resultsData were analyzed on 9016 ear piercings from 3270 respondents, including 6275 (69.6%) lobule piercings and 2741 (30.4%) auricular cartilage piercings. Complications were reported in 40.2% of cartilage piercings versus 25.4% of lobule piercings (odds ratio [OR] 1.98, p < 0.0001). Infection occurred in 30.3% of cartilage piercings versus 23.8% of lobule piercings (OR 1.39, p < 0.0001). Additionally, cartilage site and presence of any complication each independently predicted piercing removal (OR 1.62, p < 0.0001; OR 12.82, p < 0.0001).

conclusionCartilage piercings carried significantly greater odds of complication and removal compared to lobule piercings. These findings underscore the importance of thorough counseling and informed consent, especially when piercing through auricular cartilage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3:

Indexed as

Body PiercingEar CartilageEar, ExternalAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultcartilagecomplicationinfectionpiercing

Identifiers

PMID41998811
PMCPMC13569651

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.