In simple words: Cauliflower ear happens when your ear gets hit or rubbed hard, causing bleeding under the skin. If the blood isn't drained, it hardens and makes the ear look lumpy and swollen like a cauliflower.

Cauliflower ear, also known as auricular hematoma, is a deformity of the outer ear caused by blunt or repeated trauma. It occurs when blood or other fluid collects under the perichondrium, which is the connective tissue covering the ear cartilage.This separates the cartilage from its blood supply, leading to cartilage death and the formation of fibrous tissue. The ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed, resembling a cauliflower.

Example 1: A boxer receives a blow to the ear during a match, resulting in a hematoma and subsequent cauliflower ear., A wrestler experiences repeated friction and trauma to the ear during practice, leading to the development of cauliflower ear over time., An individual falls and hits their ear on a hard surface, causing trauma and the formation of a cauliflower ear.

Documentation should include details of the trauma, physical exam findings describing the ear deformity, presence of hematoma or fluid collection, any signs of infection, and treatment provided (e.g., drainage, antibiotics, surgery, pressure dressing).

** If cauliflower ear is a result of an underlying condition like relapsing polychondritis, that condition should also be coded.Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent permanent deformity.