WITHDRAWN: Congenital cleft earlobe: Classification and surgical techniques with a scoping review of the literature

Abstract

Congenital cleft earlobes are a rare type of deformity. The degree of cleft earlobe deformity can vary. For this reason, there are no widely accepted classifications and corrective methods. Herein, we report a case of a 7-year-old boy who presented with right defective type cleft earlobe. Moreover, we clarify the various types of congenital cleft earlobes and possible corrective methods reported until now. We performed PubMed searches to identify all studies on ‘ear deformity’ and ‘cleft earlobe’, and analyzed 14 articles to organize the classification of congenital cleft earlobe and their corrective methods. The case was successfully reconstructed with a simple local flap technique, and our technique can be easily applied in defective type cleft earlobe of moderate to severe degree. Prompted by this case, we have organized two classifications and the surgical techniques to correct congenital cleft earlobe from a scoping review of the literature. The congenital cleft earlobe can be classified into four subtypes according to the external appearance: defective type, simple type, tag, and cleft with or without hypoplasia, and triple lobe. Various reconstructive methods including simple suture, Z-plasty, Y–V advancement, and several flap techniques have been described according to the 4 subtypes of congenital cleft earlobes.