Clinical experience of ear elevation after reconstruction of microtia.

Hwang, Kyung Ha; Kim, Jin O; Beak, Rong Min; Oh, Kap Sung; Baek, Se Min

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 1998;25(5):807-817.
Published online July 1, 1998.

Clinical experience of ear elevation after reconstruction of microtia.

Kyung Ha Hwang, Jin O Kim, Rong Min Beak, Kap Sung Oh, Se Min Baek

Abstract

The basic technique for total reconstruction of the microtia was established by Tanzer, who utilized autologous rib cartilages for constructing the auricular framework. In order to decrease the number of surgical stages and to achieve maximal convolution, we employed a surgical procedure with simultaneous three layered costal cartilage grafting for the high profiled auricle, concha formation and lobule rotation. However, we performed ear elevation as an additional procedure for some patients who had decreased helical height due to absorption of cartilage framework or postoperative trauma and who had wanted to wear the spectacles or to have more natural appearance of auriculocephalic sulcus. From August 1988 to October 1997 we had performed surgeries for the ear elevation of 58 patients in 177 patients with total ear reconstruction, using various elevation methods; skin graft, local flap, and local with costal cartilage block. When the ear elevation was performed with skin graft, postoperative contraction of the grafted skin was inevitable. In cases with two skin flaps, it was difficult to stabilize and maintain the correct projection of the constructed ear. So we elevated the reconstructed ear by utilizing a costal cartilage block, two skin flaps to cover the posterior region and skin graft. We conclude that the local flap with costal cartilage block is one of the most favorable methods in ear elevation which can maintain the adequate projection and make natural looking auriculocephalic sulcus.