Abstract:Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of surgical treatment at different times for common preauricular fistulas during infection period.Methods A total of 57 children who underwent surgical treatment for common preauricular fistula during infection period from January 2021 to June 2024 were selected. According to surgical timing, they were divided into three groups, including 12 cases in the early redness and swelling group, 17 cases in the delayed redness and swelling group, and 28 cases in the localized abscess group. The operation duration, postoperative recurrence rate, incision healing status, and postoperative scar evaluation scores among the three groups were compared.Results There were no significant differences in the postoperative recurrence rate and incision healing among the three groups (P>0.05). The mean operation time of the localized abscess group was longer than that of the other two groups, while the postoperative scar evaluation score was lower than that of the other two groups (P<0.05), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01).Conclusions The surgery for preauricular fistula during the infection stage is clinically feasible. Selecting the early stage of infection when no local abscess has formed is conducive to improving the surgical efficiency, shortening the operation time, and simultaneously enhancing the satisfaction of postoperative scar evaluation.