title: Effectiveness of Ear Splint Therapy for Ear Deformities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present our experience with ear splint therapy for babies with ear deformities, and thereby demonstrate that this therapy is an effective and safe intervention without significant complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of 54 babies (35 boys and 19 girls; 80 ears; age ≤3 months) with ear deformities who had received ear splint therapy at the Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University Hospital between December 2014 and February 2016. Before the initiation of ear splint therapy, ear deformities were classified with reference to the standard terminology. We compared the severity of ear deformity before and after ear splint therapy by using the physician's ratings. We also compared the physician's ratings and the caregiver's ratings on completion of ear splint therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among these 54 babies, 41 children (58 ears, 72.5%) completed the ear splint therapy. The mean age at initiation of therapy was 52.91±18.26 days and the treatment duration was 44.27±32.06 days. Satyr ear, forward-facing ear lobe, Darwinian notch, overfolded ear, and cupped ear were the five most common ear deformities. At the completion of therapy, the final physician's ratings of ear deformities were significantly improved compared to the initial ratings (8.28±1.44 vs. 2.51±0.92; p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the physician's ratings and the caregiver's ratings at the completion of ear splint therapy (8.28±1.44 vs. 8.0±1.61; p=0.297).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that ear splint therapy significantly improved ear deformities in babies, as measured by quantitative rating scales. Ear splint therapy is an effective and safe intervention for babies with ear deformities.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3401-6890
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: The Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yul-Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3103-293X
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: The Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Ji
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4679-5553
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: The Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3872-2872
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: The Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5830-5910
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Shin-Young
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8521-6331
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yim
keywords: Congenital abnormalities; Ear auricle; External ear; Infant; Splints