auricle reconstruction

The absence of ears in children is a global problem. An implant made of costal cartilage is the standard procedure for ear reconstruction; however, side effects such as pneumothorax, loss of thoracic cage shape, and respiratory complications have been documented. Three-dimensional (3D) printing allows the generation of biocompatible scaffolds that mimic the shape, mechanical strength, and architecture of the native extracellular matrix necessary to promote new elastic cartilage formation. We report the potential use of a 3D-bioprinted poly-ε-caprolactone (3D-PCL) auricle-shaped framework seeded with remaining human microtia chondrocytes for the development of elastic cartilage for autologous microtia ear reconstruction...

Microtia is a congenital malformation of the external ear that often presents with other anatomical abnormalities and ipsilateral hearing loss (HL). The aim of this study was to present the correlation among important phenotypic abnormalities in microtia and their relationship with HL in a clinical population in China. In this study, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 307 patients diagnosed with microtia who visited the Department of Auricular Reconstruction of the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, for surgical auricle reconstruction from April 2021 to April 2022...

Reconstruction of the outer ear currently requires harvesting of cartilage from the posterior of the auricle or ribs leading to pain and donor site morbidity. An alternative source for auricular reconstruction is in vitro tissue engineered cartilage using stem/progenitor cells. Several candidate cell-types have been studied with tissue-specific auricular cartilage progenitor cells (AuCPC) of particular interest. Whilst chondrogenic differentiation of competent stem cells using growth factor TGFβ1 produces cartilage this tissue is frequently fibrocartilaginous and lacks the morphological features of hyaline cartilage...

Microtia reconstruction is a complex procedure performed by the facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and requires an expert understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the ear. This article provides an overview of the evolution of microtia reconstruction through history. Techniques pioneered by microtia surgeons Drs. Radford Tanzer, Burt Brent, Satoru Nagata, and Françoise Firmin will be described along with an additional excerpt on the utilization of porous polyethylene (Medpor; Stryker, USA)...

BACKGROUND: Accessory auricle is a common congenital abnormal auricular appendage with various forms of presentation. The authors proposed a practical classification system based on the involved anatomical subunits (tragus, the anterior notch and the intertragal notch) and described the corresponding surgical procedures. METHODS: The authors reviewed and analyzed 80 patients (96 ears) who underwent accessory auricle excisions form January 2018 to December 2021. Accessory auricles were classified into three categories: simple (no deformed subunits), complex (several deformed subunits) and compound (coexistence of simple and complex type)...

BACKGROUND: The approach to constructing the cartilage framework for ear reconstruction is sufficiently established. However, there is still no consensus about the age of initiation of surgical treatment. This study aims to assess the development and growth of the costal cartilage to determine the best age to perform ear reconstruction surgery. METHODS: Out of 107 patients, we used presurgical treatment data for 40 patients and medical records for 67 patients aged 5-40...

Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) mimicking rheumatic diseases are observed in 1.5%-22% of patients receiving cancer therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune disease mainly involving auricle, nose, and airway cartilage inflammation. However, knowledge regarding RP as an irAE is scarce. Pembrolizumab, a type of ICI that regulates the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), is used in patients whose cancer cannot be cured with surgery or radiation therapy...

Cryptotia is a congenital ear deformity characterized by the upper helix buried under the skin of the temporal region. Recurrence and inadequate correction of ear position are major complications following auricle reconstruction. Abnormalities of the auricular muscles are closely associated with cryptotia and considered to be the main cause. However, current corrective procedures focus on provision of additional skin and abnormal auricular muscle correction is considered supplementary. We report a surgical approach focused on the anatomical repositioning of the external auricular muscle insertions and skin cover with a mini flap...

BACKGROUND: Follow-up studies on auricular reconstruction procedures have reported postoperative complications; some of which can only be reversed with revision surgery. This study aims to provide a feasible surgical strategy based on the Nagata method for patients requiring secondary revision and verify mid-term aesthetic outcomes. METHODS: Secondary auricular reconstructions based on the Nagata method were performed on seven patients seeking secondary revision between 2017 and 2021...

Objective: To explore the safety and reliability of retrosigmoid approach BONEBRIDGE implantation in patients with auricle reconstruction using skin expansion flap. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 congenital aural atresia cases (43 ears) who underwent BONEBRIDGE implantation from September 2019 to January 2023 in Beijing Tongren Hospital. 30 males and 13 females were included in this work. The implantation age was 9-36 years old (median age=10 y/o). All cases underwent auricle reconstruction surgery using the posterior ear flap expansion method, with 36 cases using the single expanded postauricular flap method and 7 cases using two-flap method...

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a complex congenital facial anomaly characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical features, which encompass the facial skeleton and other organ systems. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest an association between Hemifacial Microsomia and vascular malformations, whether of the vertebral or any other kind. CASE PRESENTATION: Reporting a case of a 12-year-old male diagnosed with Hemifacial Microsomia (HFM) and left Microtia...

BACKGROUND: The helix is the most common localization of auricular defects. Various techniques have been successfully used for the reconstruction of helical defects. However, redistributing the remaining auricular tissue to supply an ideal reconstruction base provides the best possible esthetic outcomes. The aim of this study is to present a new design for a postauricular chondrocutaneous flap to reconstruct the 3-dimensional curve and the folded structures in full-thickness helical defects...

BACKGROUND: Commonly used methods to evaluate auricles are subjective and are therefore not specific, comprehensive, and precise nor effective in the assessment of microtia reconstruction outcomes. This scoping review aimed to summarize the objective methods for the accurate evaluation of microtia reconstruction. METHODS: We performed a scoping review of publications that used objective measurement methods to evaluate outcomes of microtia reconstruction according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines...

BACKGROUND: The defects of the upper third of the auricle are considered significant reconstructive challenges, as they require frequent operations with a high risk of morbidity at the donor site and result in unacceptable cosmetic abnormalities. OBJECTIVE: Is to perform the reconstruction of a full-thickness auricular defect located in the upper third of the ear using a conchal cartilage graft with postauricular flap coverage, aiming to minimize both donor and recipient morbidity...

INTRODUCTION: Auricular reconstruction is a technically challenging and aesthetically demanding procedure as the ear has a complex anatomy. Anthropometry aids in achieving aesthetic ear reconstruction. We considered that implication of stereophotogrammetric technology will lead to a better understanding of human ear morphology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in our institutional OPD in a tertiary health care centre in the Northern part of India...

We describe a general approach to produce bone and cartilaginous structures utilizing the self-regenerative capacity of the intercostal rib space to treat a deformed metacarpophalangeal joint and microtia. Anatomically precise 3D molds were positioned on the perichondro-periosteal or perichondral flap of the intercostal rib without any other exogenous elements. We find anatomically precise metacarpal head and auricle constructs within the implanted molds after 6 months. The regenerated metacarpal head was used successfully to surgically repair the deformed metacarpophalangeal joint...

BACKGROUND: Mohs micrographic surgery has been considered the gold standard for treating nonmelanoma skin cancers. Approximately 8% to 10% of skin cancers requiring Mohs surgery occur on the auricle. Skin grafts can be used to achieve optimal functional and cosmetic results. OBJECTIVES: To describe a skin graft technique using the mastoid area as a donor site for auricular reconstruction following Mohs micrographic surgery, to achieve optimal esthetic results in functionally important areas...

Background: The treatment of microtia or acquired ear deformities by surgery is a significant challenge for plastic and ENT surgeons; one of the most difficult points is constructing the scaffold for auricular reconstruction. As a type of cell with multiple differentiation potentials, stem cells play an essential role in the construction of cartilage scaffolds, and therefore have received widespread attention in ear reconstructive research. Methods: A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles between 2005 and 2023 with the following keywords: stem cells; auricular cartilage; ear cartilage; conchal cartilage; auricular reconstruction, regeneration, and reparation of chondrocytes; tissue engineering in the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Ovid...

INTRODUCTION: The tactics of treating patients with retraction pockets of the tympanic membrane is still debatable. When choosing surgical treatment, preference is given to the removal of the retraction pocket with simultaneous reconstruction of the posterior-upper wall of the external auditory canal (retraction area) with a cartilage or fascial flap, autologous bone, or a combination of the above tissues. Considering the well-known negative aspects of the use of all the mentioned grafts, there is a need to find new types of tissues to strengthen the retraction pocket...

3D printing has been used in the medical field since the beginning of the 21st century. Over the years, it has been democratized and has become an accessible tool at almost no cost, provided that a 3D printer is available. The surgeon can thus easily integrate it into his practice and techniques in the operating room, provided that he learns to use 3D image processing software. In order to illustrate the whole process, from the genesis and processing of the 3D image to its application in the operating room, we describe the case of a patient with a left auricle amputation, whose reconstruction was guided by a 3D model printed from his right ear...