Summary and analysis of total auricle reconstruction in adult microtia patients / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of auricle reconstruction in adult patients with microtia and summarize the experience. Methods: Clinical data of adult patients with microtia who underwent total auricle reconstruction using the modified Nagata's two stage for microtia reconstruction from June 2016 to June 2021 were analyzed. A total of 41 adult patients (42 ears) with microtia were enrolled, including 30 males and 11 females, with the median age at the time of surgery of 37 years. Autogenous costal cartilage was used as the auricular framework for all patients in this group. The first stage surgery was performed according to the modified Nagata's two stage for microtia reconstruction procedure,cartilage auricular framework carving was performed by different methods according to the ossification state of adult costal cartilage. Six months following the primary operation, ear elevation and cranioauricular angle formation, retroauricular facial flap transfer and medium-thick skin grafting were performed in the second stage. Results: All patients successfully completed two stage operation. During the follow-up of 3 months and 24 months, all the 41 patients were satisfied with the morphology of reconstructed auricle. Conclusion: According to the costal cartilage status of adult patients, different costal cartilage carving techniques can be used for total auricle reconstruction to obtain ideal surgical results.

Treatment effect of hemifacial dysplasia by injecting transplantation of autologous tissue in the second stage surgery for total auricle reconstruction / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To observe the treatment effect of hemifacial dysplasia by injecting transplantation of autologous dermis and fat granules in the second stage surgery for total auricle reconstruction. Methods: From March 2013 to March 2018, 57 patients with unilateral microtia and mild-to-moderate hemifacial dysplasia were divided into concurrent treatment group (32 cases, including 13 females and 19 males and aged 6-33 years old with an average age of 12.5 years) and traditional treatment group (25 cases, including 10 females and 15 males and aged 6-21 years old with an average age of 11.3 years) according to the different surgical methods. Modified Nagata method of auricular reconstruction was chosen, in the second stage surgery (cranial ear angle plasty), patients in concurrent treatment group received the treatment of hemifacial dysplasia with autologous dermal and fat injection transplantation at the same time; Patients in traditional treatment group only received cranial ear angle plasty. Statistical analysis of the two groups of patients was carried out for the average operation time, the average length of hospital stay, the incidence of common complications and postoperative satisfaction rate. SPSS 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean operation time of the concurrent treatment group (282.0±3.4)min was longer than that of the traditional treatment group (243.0±3.1)min, and the difference was statistically significant (t=9.884, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the average length of stay between the the concurrent treatment group (9.4±0.3)d and the traditional treatment group(9.5±0.2)d, t=0.256, P>0.05. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of common surgical complications between the concurrent treatment group (12.5%, 4/32) and the traditional treatment group(12.0%, 3/25), χ2=0, P>0.05. Postoperative satisfaction rate of the concurrent treatment group(90.6%, 29/32) was significantly higher than that of the traditional treatment group(56.0%, 14/25), the difference was statistically significant (χ2=9.081, P<0.05). Conclusions: Auricular reconstruction with treatment of hemifacial dysplasia should not significantly increase the average length of stay and the incidence of common complications compared with auricular reconstruction alone. Although the operation time is slightly extended, the scheme of concurrent treatment can reduce the times of operations, save medical resources and increase the satisfaction rate of patients.

Evaluation of unilateral and bilateral bimodal bone conduction hearing intervention in patients with bilateral microtia-atresia / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of unilateral/bilateral bone conduction hearing rehabilitation in patients with bilateral microtia accompanied with severe conductive hearing loss following staged auricle reconstruction and bonebridge implantation. Methods: Thirty-two patients, including 20 males and 12 females, with an average age of 11.8, who received surgical treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from March, 2016 to January, 2020 with bilateral microtia-atresia were included. Hearing thresholds, speech perception and high-resolution CT of the temporal bone were evaluated prior to surgery and individualized surgery plans (staged auricle reconstruction and bonebridge implantation) were made. Hearing thresholds and speech perception in quiet and noise (SNR = 5 dB) using unilateral Bonebridge were tested two weeks after the implantation surgery when the Bonebridge was activated and at 3th, 6th, 12th month after activation. Hearing thresholds and speech perception were also tested at least three months after the activation of the Bonebridge under three conditions: unaided, unilateral Bonebridge, and bilateral bone conduction hearing devices (Bonebridge plus contralateral ADHEAR). The international hearing aid assessment questionnaire (IOI-HA) and Glasgow children's benefit questionnaire were used to evaluate the subjective benefits of the patients. SPSS 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Among these 32 patients, nine were conducted Bonebridge implantation surgery before auricle reconstruction, six were simultaneously with auricle reconstruction and 17 were implanted after auricle reconstruction surgery. Compared with unaided, the mean hearing thresholds (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) and speech perception following unilateral BCHD and bilateral BCHD attachment were improved significantly (P<0.05 each). The speech perceptin in noise of bilateral BCHD was better than unilateral (P<0.05 each). The modified questionnaire revealed high levels of patient satisfaction following use of both unilateral and bilateral devices. Conclusions: Individulized surgical procedures involving auricle reconstruction and Bonebridge implantation are safe and effective for patients with bilateral microtia-atresia, solving both appearance and hearing problems. Speech perception in noise is better following bilateral BCHD than unilateral BCHD attachment.

Evaluation of the effects auricular reconstruction with Medpor combined with hearing rehabilitation / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of single-stage auricular reconstruction and hearing rehabilitation in children with microtia and external auditory canal atresia. Methods: Sixty eight cases of microtia with external auditory canal atresia (53 males and 15 females, age from 7 to 12 years, with a median age of 8.8 years), who received operations in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from July 2017 to December 2019 were collected.A total of 28 cases received auricle reconstruction with high-density polyethylene (Medpor) framework and hearing reconstructions, among which 20 patients received the traditional external auditory canal and middle ear repair (EACR), and eight patients were implanted bone conduction device bone bridge(BB) simultaneously.In the control group, 40 patients only received Medpor frame implantation for auricle plasty. Postoperative changes in auricle morphology and auditory function and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: After three to thirty months follow-ups, the auricles shape recovered well in all three groups. The average scores of 14 fine structures in the auricles were 9.43(EACR) and 10.67(BB) points. The average score of auricle symmetry were 6.83(EACR) and 6.00(BB) points. There was no significant difference compared to the auricle reconstruction group (8.23/6.20 points). P>0.05. After surgery, the average hearing improvement in the BB group was 43.33 dB HL and the average speech recognition threshold declined 42.28 dB HL. In the EACR group, the average hearing improvement was 4.13 dB HL and the average speech recognition threshold declined 11.36 dB HL. No vertigo, tinnitus, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other complications occurred in all the patients. In the EACR group, sensorial hearing loss, auricle stent fracture, ear canal restenosis and ear canal atresia occurred in one patient respectively. In the auricle group, one auricle stent exposure and one facial branch nerve injury occurred. Nearly ten patients had difficulty in hair growth at scalp incisions. Conclusions: The operation of single-stage auricular reconstruction and hearing rehabilitation for microtia is feasible. The methods of hearing reconstruction should be determined by evaluating the development of the inner and middle ear of the patients. For those with poor mastoid development, bone bridge implantation is recommended to achieve a stable and significant hearing effect.

Evaluación de zona dadora en reconstrucción auricular de microtia con técnica suprapericóndrica en la obtención de cartílago costal / Evaluation of donor site in auricular reconstruction of microtia with supraperichondrial costal cartilage harvest technique

Aim: To assess the presence of donor site sequel of patients undergoing ear reconstruction with costal cartilage harvest, using supraperichondrial technique. methods: Cross-sectional study; patients under 15 years. The cartilages were harvested with perichondrium. Three observers performed donor site assessment; they were independent to this study (validated Strasser score: deformity, asymmetry, contour and scar). Children and their mothers were applied satisfaction survey. Analysis of the association between variables: nonparametric tests. Results: 19 reconstructions, 18 patients, age 8 (6-15) years, follow-up 50 (14-96) months; number of rib cartilage harvested 3 (2-4) units. Expert assessment: excellent in 2 (10.5%) cases, good in 10 (52.6%), regular in 7 (36.8%). Most mothers and patients rated the result as good. There was no significant difference in the score, with respect to the number of harvested costal cartilages. To separate them by age, poorer results were obtained at surgery before 10 years of age than in older (p < 0.03). Conclusion: Ear reconstruction and supraperichondrial technique for costal cartilage allows obtain good results in donor site. There is high satisfaction when evaluated by the patient and his mother, as well as observers. The result is not dependent on the number of harvested cartilage, but is related to age at surgery, best results were obtained in patients operated over 10 years of age.

Objetivo: Evaluar presencia de secuela en zona dadora de pacientes sometidos a reconstrucción auricular con cartílago costal con técnica suprapericóndrica. material y método: Corte transversal; pacientes menores de 15 años. Cartílagos fueron levantados con pericondrio. Evaluación de zona dadora fue realizada por tres observadores independientes (escala validada de Strasser: deformidad, asimetría, contorno y cicatriz). A niños y madres se les aplicó encuesta de satisfacción. En el análisis de la asociación entre variables se utilizan pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: 19 reconstrucciones, 18 pacientes, mediana edad 8 (6-15) años, seguimiento 50 (14-96) meses, número de cartílagos costales obtenidos 3 (2-4) unidades. Evaluación de expertos: excelente en 2 (10,5%) casos, bueno en 10 (52,6%) y regular en 7 (36,8%). La mayoría de las madres y pacientes calificó como bueno el resultado. No hubo diferencia significativa en el puntaje con respecto al número de cartílagos costales cosechados. Al separarlos por edad se obtuvo peores resultados en los intervenidos antes de los 10 años que en mayores (p < 0,03). Conclusión: La reconstrucción auricular con cartílago costal y técnica suprapericóndrica, permite obtener buenos resultados en zona dadora. Existe alta satisfacción al ser evaluada por el paciente y su madre, así como por los observadores. El resultado no es dependiente del número de cartílagos; sí en relación a la edad de la cirugía: mejores resultados en pacientes operados sobre los 10 años de edad, lo que concuerda con otros estudios.

A simple ear splint for microtia patients.

Microtia is a congenital anomaly of the ear can occur as an isolated birth defect or as part of a spectrum of anomalies or as a syndrome. Microtia is often associated with impaired hearing and or total loss of hearing. Such patients typically require treatment for surgical ear reconstruction and for hearing impairment. Maintenance of ear projection and post auricular sulcus in staged ear reconstruction in microtia is a trying problem. So also is the maintenance of the patency of the external auditory meatus following recanalization and meatoplasty.This case report describes a simple effective way of fabrication of ear splint prosthesis.

Uma reconstrução auricular sem precedentes / Un unprecedent auricular reconstruction

As auricular reconstruction is a very difficult procedure, patients are unfortunately sometimes found in doctor's surgeries who have previously been operated on with disastrous results that are impossible to correct or improve upon with known methods. Some of these patients accept the result achieved, while others do not and thus seek a better solution. What is to be presented now cannot be found in other publications and may be added to the specialty's arsenal as a new method. This work focuses on a twenty-one-year-old patient born with microtia on the right side who, between the age of six and the day of their consultation, had undergone twenty-five unsuccessful operations. Casuistry and method: Only one case was operated on and the method consisted of the transfer of all the retroauricular skin from the left ear in order to cover the right auricular region and thus create an ear. The fingertips of the 2nd and 3rd fingers of the right hand were used as vectors. Result: The author had a satisfactory result within the desired expectations. Conclusion: It is possible to use finger tips as a vector for the transfer of auricular flaps for complicated cases of auricular or facial reconstruction...

Por ser a reconstrução auricular um procedimento muito difícil, infelizmente encontram-se nos consultórios alguns pacientes já operados e com resultados desastrosos, impossíveis de serem corrigidos ou melhorados com os métodos já conhecidos. Alguns pacientes se conformam com o resultado conseguido, mas outros não e procuram uma melhor solução. O que vai se apresentar agora não consta em outras publicações e pode ser incluído no arsenal da especialidade como método novo. Este trabalho trata de um paciente, 21 anos, que nasceu com microtia do lado direito, que desde os 6 anos, até o dia da consulta, já tinha sido submetido a vinte e cinco operações, sem sucesso. Casuística e método: Um caso, que foi operado, cujo método consistiu em transferir toda a pele retroauricular da orelha esquerda, para cobrir a região auricular direita, fazendo assim uma orelha. Usaram-se como vetores as polpas dos dedos 2° e 3° da mão direita. Resultado: O autor ficou satisfeito com o resultado alcançado. Conclusão: É possível usar as polpas digitais como vetor para transferir retalhos auriculares para casos complicados de reconstrução auricular ou facial...