Retrospective study on unilateral polyotia combined with microtia utilizing the technique of preserving residual ear tissue

Abstract

The presence of polyotia in individuals with microtia is a rare deformity. Due to the intricate structure of the auricle, uncertain etiology, and challenging corrective techniques, it has always been a focal point in the field of plastic surgery. The present study presents a technique for correcting the combination of polyotia and microtia by utilizing residual ear tissue as graft material. The retrospective study included 23 patients with polyotia and microtia from 2018 to 2022. The residual ear tissue was used to rectify auricular deformities in all patients. The patients were instructed to evaluate the satisfaction of the auricle shape using a visual analog scale (VAS) both before and 6 months after the surgical procedure. The esthetic outcomes of auricle subunits were simultaneously assessed by a senior physician pre- and postoperatively. The mean duration of follow-up in this study was 8.73 months. The preoperative VAS satisfaction score was recorded as 2.26±0.86, while the post-operative VAS score significantly increased to 7.86±0.86. The preoperative auricle esthetic outcomes score was recorded as 9.95±1.74, while the post-operative score significantly increased to 24.04±2.16. The follow-up period did not present any cases of flap necrosis, hematoma, infection, or wound dehiscence. The study demonstrates that comprehensive utilization of residual auricular tissue can lead to optimal outcomes in correcting polyotia with concha-type microtia. The utilization of residual ear tissue can be maximized to streamline the operation, minimize bodily harm, and enhance patient satisfaction.