[Ultrasound measurement of skin and cartilage thickness in healthy and reconstructed ears with a 20-MHz ultrasound device].
BACKGROUND
The surgical reconstruction of the external ear according to Weerda is a proven method to correct malformed or amputated auricles. Our goal was to test the usefulness of high-frequency ultrasound in measurement of layer-thickness of auricles.


METHODS
Using a 20-MHz B-Mode ultrasonographic method (Dermascan C, adn-Medizintechnik, Hamm, Germany) we measured the thickness of skin and cartilage layers in patients with normal auricles (n = 47) and reconstructed auricles (n = 15) in vivo.


RESULTS
The average thickness of the cutis of normal auricles was 0.8 mm, the subcutis and the cartilage layer 0.6 mm thick on average. In reconstructed auricles, the thickness of the cutis averaged 1.0 mm, the subcutis 1.1 mm, and the cartilage layer (to the extent that it could be visualized) 3.0 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate a good approximation of the thicknesses of the different layers (cutis and subcutaneous tissue) in reconstructed and natural external ears, but the cartilage of the reconstructed auricles is clearly thicker.


CONCLUSIONS
The 20-MHz B-Mode ultrasound is suitable for examining the methods of plastic surgery in malformed auricles. Based on the demonstrated results, surgical modifications should be assessed in future.
Danter
J
J
Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde der Medizinischen, Universität zu Lübeck.
Siegert
R
R
Weerda
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*