title: Asymmetric Z-plasty for telephone deformity in prominent ear correction.
abstract: There have been plenty of surgical techniques for the correction of prominent ears. "Telephone deformity" or "reverse telephone ear" has been described as the undesired result of the inappropriate correction of the prominent ear, mainly the deficient correction of the lobule. We have performed an asymmetric Z-plasty to the lobule to overcome this deformity not only by excision of the excess skin but also by transposition of the soft tissue. Between 2005 and 2011, the technique currently described was performed in 19 patients. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative standardized photographs were taken, and measurements were done on postoperative first week, first month, and first year. The measurements include ear height at 3 different horizontal planes as follows: (1) the most cranial point of the ear, (2) the middle point of the ear, and (3) the most caudal point of the ear. The angle between the vertical plane of the head and the ear was measured at these previously defined 3 points. These measurements were used for indication and preoperative planning. There were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative values (P < 0.05). The postoperative first year results indicated the effectiveness of this alternative technique for the long-term maintenance of the position of the lobule.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, TOBB University, Ankara, Turkey; and †Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Afsin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Cagri A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cologlu
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Borman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult