title: The auricle's cavum conchae composite graft in nasal reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous transplants consisting of skin and cartilage, so-called composite grafts (CGs), are useful in nasal reconstruction of multilayered defects. A CG from the auricle's cavum conchae serves both functional and esthetic demands. This article outlines the indications and the requirements of the CG, making special considerations to improve wound healing, and discusses our results in consideration with recent publications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case-control study assessing the functional and esthetic long-term results in the donor and recipient site is presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2005 and 2011, 91 patients received differently sized CGs of the auricle for nasal reconstruction. In 85/91 cases the donor site defect was closed using a retroauricular pedicled island flap. Six of 91 defects were closed primarily. Indications were multilayered defects of the nasal vestibule, the nasal floor, the inner nasal valve, and the lateral sidewall. The main indication for surgery was skin malignancies. One of 91 major and 14/91 minor complications were observed. Seventy-seven of 91 patients received a custom-made prosthesis to prevent stenotic scarring. The 2.5-year follow-up showed excellent results of stability and shape at the donor and recipient site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The auricular inner lining CG is a versatile and reliable autologous transplant, which is ideal for multilayered nasal reconstruction because of easy harvesting, little donor site morbidity, and its convex shape. Septal splints and custom-made prosthesis secure healing and prevent stenotic scarring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany. marc.scheithauer@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: Marc O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rotter
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rettinger
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Veit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013165:Splints / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019737:Transplants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult