Microtia is the auricular hypoplasia exceeding the usual cupping deformity and it varies from a structure in which the main auricular components are recognized by a small vertical ridge to formless except for the lobular compartment. One may find an associated atresia of the external auditory caual, maldevelopment of the middle ear, first and second branchial arch syndrome, hypoplasia of the maxilla and mandible, and cleft lip and palate.
Those patients who have a hearing disturbance can be devastated not only from the functional but from the psychological stand point.
The reconstruction of the auricle is difficult and a challenging field for plastic surgeons.
Seven cases of microtia were reconstructed with frameworks made from autogenous rib cartilage and the results are as follows:
1. Six cases were reconstruced in three or four stage and one case in one stage.
2. All cases were male and unilateral on the right in four cases. The age distribution was from six to forty seven years.
3. There was no significant differences in length, width, inclination, altitude or distance between the reconstructed and normal ears.
4. Four of seven cases were combined with one, or more than one of the following anomalis a preauricular pit, an auricular appendage, a prominent ear, hypoplasia of mandible and maxilla, epicanthus and a cleft palate.
5. There was no postoperative complication, except two cases of hypertrophic scaron the chest donor site.
6. The one-stage operation seemed to be a time-reducing, fascinating procedure but reported cases were few, and the follow up period was too short to evaluate it.
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