Nonsurgical Creation of an Auriculocephalic Sulcus in Children With Congenital Auricular Deformities.

Abstract

Nonsurgical correction of congenital auricular deformity is known to be effective in newborns. In this study, the authors investigated factors influencing the outcome of nonsurgical or surgical correction of the auriculocephalic sulcus, an important auricular structure and one that is necessary for wearing glasses or a mask. A total of 80 ears (63 children) were splinted using a metallic paper clip and thermoplastic resin in our outpatient clinic between October 2010 and September 2019. The ears were divided into a group, in which the auriculocephalic sulcus was formed nonsurgically (n =5 6) and a group, in which surgery was needed (n = 24). The authors compared the clinical characteristics of the deformities, whether cryptotia affected the superior or inferior crus, and whether constricted ears were Tanzer group IIA or IIB between the two study groups by retrospective chart review. There was a significant correlation between the age, at which ear-molding treatment was initiated and outcome ( P < 0.001). The optimal cutoff value for age, before which ear-molding treatment should be initiated was 7 months. Inferior crus-type cryptotia was corrected adequately by splinting, but all Tanzer group IIB constricted ears needed surgical treatment. Earlier initiation of ear-molding treatment is recommended, preferably before 6 months of age. Nonsurgical treatment is an effective intervention for the creation of the auriculocephalic sulcus in ears with cryptotia and Tanzer group IIA constricted ears but cannot correct for an inadequate amount of skin over the auricular margin or a defect in the antihelix.