title: Neonatal molding in deformational auricolar anomalies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital auricular anomalies can be categorized either as malformational or deformational. The first are characterized by a partial absence of the skin or cartilage resulting in a constricted or underdeveloped pinna and require surgical correction. Deformations are characterized by a misshaped but fully developed pinna and are best treated by auricular molding.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Authors want to present their case load in treatment of infants affected by deformational auricolar anomalies and describe their techniques using early splinting for congenital auricular deformities, like prominent ear, lop ear, constricted ear, Stahl's ear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2009 to 2011, in Maxillo and Oral Surgery Unit, a nonsurgical technique was used to treat 22 ears affected by deformational anomalies in 12 patients soon after birth. Four patients were female. This kind of nonsurgical correction of the deformed auricle was performed on lop ears (n=6), constricted ears (n=8), prominent ears (n= 4), Stahl's ear (n=4). Children more than two months old were also excluded. The mean of treatment time was 5.5 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  according to the Authors and the parents 100% of treated auricles improved. Improving at the end of the molding treatment was observed in 18% of the auricles, but recurrence to one year of stopping treatment. There were not complications caused by this procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nonsurgical molding has the advantage to correct at a very early age a cosmetic abnormality, giving a natural and in the most of the time a satisfactory results, with a prevalence rate of complications of much less than surgical corrections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. fabio.filiaci@tiscali.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ungari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arangio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filiaci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papoff
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vellone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cascone
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000628:therapy*; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013165:Splints