In Vivo Electromechanical Reshaping of Ear Cartilage in a Rabbit Model: A Minimally Invasive Approach for Otoplasty
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the first successful study to date of in vivo electromechanical reshaping of ear cartilage in a rabbit model. METHODS: Ears of New Zealand white rabbits were reshaped using percutaneous needle electrode electromechanical reshaping (5 V for 4 minutes) and were then bolstered for 4 weeks. Ten ears were treated, with 2 undergoing sham procedures and serving as controls. The treatment was performed using a platinum array of electrodes consisting of 4 parallel rows of needles inserted across the region of flexures in the ear. After 4 weeks, the animals were killed, and the ears were photographed and sectioned for conventional light microscopy and confocal microscopy (live-dead fluorescent assays). RESULTS: Significant shape change was noted in all the treated ears (mean, 102.4°; range, 87°-122°). Control ears showed minimal shape retention (mean, 14.5°; range, 4°-25°). Epidermis and adnexal structures were preserved in reshaped ears, and neochondrogenesis was noted in all the specimens. Confocal microscopy demonstrated a localized zone of nonviable chondrocytes (<2.0 mm in diameter) surrounding needle sites in all the treated ears. CONCLUSIONS: Electromechanical reshaping can alter the shape of the rabbit auricle, providing good creation and retention of shape, with limited skin and cartilage injury. Needle electrode electromechanical reshaping is a viable technique for minimally invasive tissue reshaping, with potential applications in otoplasty, septoplasty, and rhinoplasty. Further studies to refine dosimetry parameters will be required before clinical trials.
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Electromechanical reshaping produced significant auricular changes with minimal injury, including promising applications to costal cartilage.
“electromechanical reshaping produced significant auricular changes with minimal injury, including promising applications to costal cartilage.45–47”
From Otoplasty Surgical Techniques and Clinical Outcomes: A Practical Review (2026) · cites this paper as [45]
The Abstract Results report significant shape change in treated rabbit ears, and the COMMENT describes limited skin and cartilage injury. The paper identifies potential applications in otoplasty, septoplasty, and rhinoplasty, but does not address applications to costal cartilage. Page numbers are not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Oliaei, S., Manuel, C., Karam, B., Hussain, S. F., Hamamoto, A., Protsenko, D. E., & Wong, B. J. F.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- ORCID
- Wong, Brian J. F.
- Venue
- JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-01-01
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 34
- ISSN
- 2168-6076 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4122102
- OpenAlex
- W2131340948
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 1.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Cancer Institute (P30CA062203)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (R21DE019026)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Microbial Inactivation Methods
- Keywords
- auricular cartilage, auricle, needle electrode, chondrocyte necrosis, rabbit model, otoplasty, confocal microscopy
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Ear, External, Elasticity, Electrodes, Platinum, Rabbits, Wound Healing, Microscopy, Confocal, Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
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