title: Microtia: ear reconstruction using tissue expander and autogenous costal cartilage.
abstract: Ear reconstruction is one of the most challenging surgeries faced by the reconstructive surgeon. Currently, the use of autogenous costal cartilage is still best practice for microtia reconstruction. However, the relative deficiency of thin skin for coverage of the cartilage framework remains a limiting factor. Since 1994, we have used tissue expander in the mastoid area and innovated a technique to fabricate cartilage framework. All these innovations may solve the deficiency of the skin and improve cartilaginous framework definition. In conclusion, tissue expander offers a non-hairbearing, thin, well-vascularised skin to envelope an erect, contour-accentuated framework. Most patients with microtia are satisfied with their ear reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking union medical college, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D002648:Child; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012272:Ribs / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome