title: Neonatal Ear Molding: Timing and Technique.
abstract: The incidence of auricular deformities is believed to be ∼11.5 per 10,000 births, excluding children with microtia. Although not life-threatening, auricular deformities can cause undue distress for patients and their families. Although surgical procedures have traditionally been used to reconstruct congenital auricular deformities, ear molding has been gaining acceptance as an efficacious, noninvasive alternative for the treatment of newborns with ear deformations. We present the successful correction of bilateral Stahl's ear deformity in a newborn through a straightforward, nonsurgical method implemented on the first day of life. The aim of this report is to make pediatric practitioners aware of an effective and simple molding technique appropriate for correction of congenital auricular anomalies. In addition, it stresses the importance of very early initiation of ear cartilage molding for achieving the desired outcome.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah; and.
authors.forename: Erin Elizabeth
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Anstadt
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Dana Nicole
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Alvin Chi-Ming
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Faizi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah barbu.gociman@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Barbu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gociman
mesh_terms: D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000002:abnormalities; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013165:Splints