Release of the Inferior Crus in Antihelix Plasty.

OBJECTIVE: Protruding ears with a hypoplastic antihelix often have poorly developed inferior cura. Publications on this topic until now have only dealt with absent inferior crus and have neglected its importance in everyday antihelix plasty. This article describes a new surgical technique to improve treatment of the antihelix.

METHODS: Patients with protruding upper third ears received either standard otoplasty with crus superior remodeling (ST) or the newly developed surgical procedure including crus inferior release (STI). To evaluate the results, a survey containing 10 questions about different outcome parameters was conducted with the patients. Each question was given a score ranging from 0 to 10, where 10 meant the best outcome and 0 the worst.

RESULTS: From January 2013 to March 2014, 216 patients underwent otoplasty, of which 99 completed the questionnaire. No differences could be found between ST and STI patients except for their duration of pain, which was significantly less in group STI. Overall, the scores from the questionnaire were 89.85 in ST and 92.35 in STI. Mean values for satisfaction were 9.33 in group ST and 9.56 in group STI.

CONCLUSION: When correcting the antihelix, the inferior crus must always be checked because the protruding upper third cannot be compensated only by overcorrecting the superior crus. It should be a matter of routine to recognize the degree of malformation and determine the best possible treatment. This novel technique is an additional valuable option in otoplasty to improve the upper third in a more natural way and create highly satisfactory results.