Prosthetic rehabilitation of partial ear loss with custom-made acrylic attachment and long-term soft liner

Abstract

The craniofacial implants are used for retaining the prostheses although these are costly and often require complex laboratory procedures. The aim of this case report is to describe a case of successful rehabilitation of partial ear loss with long-term soft liner and mechanically retained by custom-made heat-cured acrylic attachment. A female patient underwent a scalp avulsion injury and lost major portion of her hair and upper part of the left ear till the antitragus. A partial auricular prosthesis was fabricated, and mechanical retention was achieved through custom-made heat-cured acrylic attachment engaged in anatomic undercuts of remained ear. Permanent soft liner provided a life-like appearance and consistency to the prosthetic ear and bonded to custom-made heat-cured acrylic attachment through chemical cross-linking. Patient accepted the prosthesis satisfactorily without any social and psychological embracement. This technique simplified the clinical and laboratory procedures and reduced the cost of the prosthesis.