title: Integrated protocol of auricle reconstruction combined with hearing reconstruction.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Auricle reconstruction combined with hearing reconstruction can help patients with microtia to obtain practical hearing improvement as well as cosmetic improvement. The integrated procedures can facilitate the incision design and obtain a natural-looking three-dimensional shape of the reconstruction auricle.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the advantages of an integrated protocol for auricle reconstruction combined with hearing reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the clinical information and follow-up results of 1300 cases (1460 ears) of congenital aural atresia with microtia who underwent auricle reconstruction combined with hearing reconstruction from January 1988 to December 2007 in Tongren Hospital. In the first stage, rib cartilage was harvested to sculpt the framework then implanted into the subcutaneous pockets in the desired position. In addition, hearing reconstruction was carried out by the antrum approach. In the second stage, the auricle framework was elevated to accomplish the auricle reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 1445 of 1460 ears were closed by primary healing. The other 15 ears were successfully reconstructed with revision surgeries without graft failure complications. The three-dimensional profiles were well defined in 1248 ears. Total satisfaction rate was 85.5%. During the long-term follow-up, no cartilage resorption was found and all auricles retained good cosmetic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, China.
authors.forename: Shouqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Danni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Shusheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shubin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D065817:Congenital Microtia; D004423:Ear / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult