title: Otoplasty: critical review of clinical results.
abstract: Although it is generally believed that otoplasty provides uniformly gratifying results, thorough patient follow-up reviews are quite rare. Otoplasty surgery performed on 119 ears was retrospectively reviewed to assess the results of our cartilage-sparing technique. This method of otoplasty relies on a conchal set-back and suture transfixation technique to improve the antihelical contour. Auricular medialization averaged 10.3 mm. Over-correction is required, particularly in the superior pole, as loss of correction with healing was approximately 40% of the initial medialization. Revision surgery due to loss of correction was necessary for 6.6% of the ears initially operated on by the senior author. Patients who presented following cartilage-cutting procedures tended to have a higher rate of revision and persistent postoperative stigmata. Complications in general were few; however, mersilene suture extrusion occurred in 8% of ears. Only one of these required revision surgery for associated loss of correction. Despite these drawbacks, over 95% of patients achieved satisfactory results using cartilage-sparing otoplasty techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: McGraw
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tropper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013537:Sutures