الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Prominent ears affect approximately 5% of the population and can have a significant psychological impact on patients. A wide variety of otoplasty techniques have been described, all sharing the goal of re-creating the normal appearance of the ear and achieving symmetry between the 2 sides. Prominent ear (Protruding or lop ear) is characterized by an increase in the cephalo-auricular angle, which occurs due to an immature antihelices fold; an excessive concha cartilage; or abnormal attachment of the auricle to the side of the head, alone or in combination. At the start of the school, patients with prominent ear are usually exposed to psychological distress. Thus, it is advisable to correct the deformity before school attendance (at 4-6 years). Recent trends in otoplasty techniques have consistently moved toward less invasive options, ranging from nonsurgical newborn ear molding to cartilage-sparing surgical techniques and even incisionless, office-based procedures. Herein, we review anatomy of the external ear, patient evaluation, the evolution of nonsurgical and surgical otoplasty techniques, otoplasty outcomes, and future trends for treatment of prominent ears. Prominent ears are defined as the abnormal protrusion of the ears from the head. It has been estimated that approximately 5% of the population are affected by this condition to varying degrees. While the physiologic effects of the condition are negligible, the psychological impact, as a result of decreased self-esteem and teasing by peers, can be severe. Treatment of prominent ears is primarily surgical except in newborns. Prominent ears vary both in degree and cause of the underlying cartilage deformity. Recognition of the unique features of each prominent ear will direct the surgeon toward the appropriate procedure for correction. This chapter emphasizes the goals of otoplasty, reviews specific techniques for correction of the deficient anti-helical fold, and correction of concha hypertrophy. |