Summary and analysis of total auricle reconstruction in adult microtia patients

Abstract

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.