Clinical evaluation of three total ear reconstruction methods.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate relative indications for three different surgical techniques used in total ear reconstruction.


METHODS
A total of 1864 cases requiring complete ear reconstruction were performed. In 1485 cases reconstruction was effected by skin expansion and subsequent grafting of autogenous rib cartilage frameworks. In 355 cases skin expansion was followed by insertion of a Medpor framework. Twenty-four cases were repaired with titanium dowel retained prosthesis. Clinical results of these three surgical techniques were evaluated.


RESULTS
All three methods were successfully used in total ear reconstruction and showed a satisfactory appearance. For patients less than 30 years old and with intact mastoid skin, the rib cartilage grafting methods were preferred. A Medpor framework was suitable for cases over 30 years old, despite the appearance of mild inflammation in the skin flap. We resorted to a prosthetic reconstruction in patients whose mastoid skin was seriously damaged when they were unwilling to accept more complex methods of ear reconstruction.


CONCLUSIONS
The three methods described provide satisfactory clinical results and are each indicated for specific patient cohorts.
Auricular Center, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China. yaner6922@yahoo.com.cn
Yanyong
Y
Zhao
Yanmei
Y
Wang
Hongxin
H
Zhuang
Haiyue
H
Jiang
Wenjie
W
Jiang
Xiaogen
X
Hu
Shuodou
S
Hu
Shujie
S
Wang
Bo
B
Pan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012272:Ribs; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult