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Non-excisional otoplasty
Guse DM, Fisher A, Schwentker AR, Pan BS
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
2013-02-28
Presenter: Darlene Guse
Affidavit:
It is all original work shared between the resident and a medical student, with the resident contributing approximately 75 percent of the work.
Director Name: W John Kitzmiller
Author Category: Resident Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Craniomaxillofacial
Prominent ears are caused by either excess conchal bowl cartilage or underdevelopment of the antihelical fold. While multiple otoplasty techniques have been described for the treatment of prominent ears, they most often include excision or scoring of cartilage, skin and may even include complex muscle or fascia flaps for contour. In the current series, 67 patients' records (consisting of 122 ears) were reviewed who were treated with a non-excisional otoplasty technique. The technique involves the placement of Mustarde sutures without incision or scoring of the cartilage, Furnas sutures for conchal setback, suture repositioning of the tail of the helix and skin closure without resection. All the procedures were performed by one surgeon over the course of 12 years. Objective data was obtained by measuring pre- and post-operative prominence in the AP view with average projection decreases in the upper, middle, and lower aspects of the ear of 8.3, 9.9, and 6.8 percent, respectively. Subjective data was collected from two plastic surgeons and one lay person. Overall subjective scores also demonstrated improvement. Follow-up ranged from zero days to nearly four years. Complications included erythema (6), hematoma (4), small pressure sores independent of suture site (4), hypertrophic scar (2), temporary inflammatory reaction to suture (1), and hypersensitivity (1). Recurrence was experienced in only four ears (3%). Thus the proposed technique is a simple and safe procedure with reliable results.
