How do you know if you shattered your ear cartilage?

If it's done with a needle the cartilage won't shatter, it's usually when it's done with a gun that will happen. If it happens the cartilage will be misshaped after-wards, I'm not sure if it ever heals properly it depends on how bad it shatters. The popping noise was probably because it was close to your ear hole so you could hear the needle go through.