Mechanisms of ear trauma and reconstructive techniques in 105 consecutive patients
Open accessAbstract
Acquired auricular deformities may diminish facial esthetics and cause psychological distress. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the type of injuries and applied reconstructive techniques in a large academic hospital in The Netherlands. A retrospective chart review was conducted for the last 105 patients who underwent auricular reconstruction for an acquired deformity. Data concerning gender, affected side, cause of injury, anatomical region, the previous and further surgeries, type of cartilage, and skin cover used were collected and analyzed. 105 patients were included. Acquired auricular deformities were mainly caused by bite injuries (22 %), traffic accidents (17 %), burns (9.5 %), and post-otoplasty complications (9.5 %). The upper third of the auricle was most often injured (41 %), followed by the entire auricle (19 %). 70 % of cases required reconstruction with costal cartilage. The most common form of cutaneous cover was a postauricular skin flap (40 % of cases). This study gives a complete overview of causes and treatment of acquired auricular deformities. The results are comparable with the results of similar studies found in literature. Bite wounds are the leading cause of acquired auricular injuries. The upper third is most commonly affected. In the largest percentage of reconstructions, costal cartilage and a postauricular flap were used to correct the deformity.
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Reconstruction of a traumatically amputated ear continues to be a major surgical challenge because of the complex shape, unique anatomical structure of the ear, and the small size of vessels responsible for its perfusion.
“Reconstruction of traumatically amputated ear continues to be a major surgical challenge because of the complex shape, unique anatomical structure of the ear, and the small size of vessels responsible for its perfusion.[12]”
From Auricular avulsion injuries (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
The Discussion describes post-traumatic ear reconstruction as highly challenging because of the auricle’s intricate cartilaginous framework and thin soft-tissue covering. The paper does not identify the small size of vessels supplying the ear as a reason for that difficulty; its study focuses on reconstruction with autologous tissue rather than replantation of an amputated ear. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe findings on complication rate are in line with the current literature.
“These findings are in line with the current literature on the topic [7,8,9].”
From A Retrospective Study on Single-Stage Reconstruction of the Ear following Skin Cancer Excision in Elderly Patients (2022) · cites this paper as [8]
The Discussion compares the proportion of reconstructions needed after otoplasty complications (9.5%) with figures from two earlier studies (11% and 13%). Those figures concern complications as a cause of deformity among reconstruction patients, not a general complication rate after ear reconstruction, so the broader claim is not established. (LLM, conf=0.81)
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- Authors
- Kolodzynski, M. N., Kon, M., Egger, S., & Breugem, C. C.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Kolodzynski, Michail N.
- Breugem, Corstiaan C.
- Venue
- European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
- Published
- 2016-10-06
- Volume
- 274
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 723-728
- ISSN
- 0937-4477 (ISSN-L)
- 1434-4726
- PMC
- PMC5281643
- OpenAlex
- W2528843749
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 2.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Congenital Ear and Nasal Anomalies
- Keywords
- ear trauma, ear reconstruction, costal cartilage, bite wounds, traffic accidents, burns, cartilage grafts, skin cover
- MeSH terms
- Academic Medical Centers, Accidents, Traffic, Adult, Amputation, Traumatic, Bites and Stings, Burns, Ear Deformities, Acquired, Ear, External, Female, Humans, Male, Netherlands, Retrospective Studies, Surgical Flaps, Dermatologic Surgical Procedures, Costal Cartilage
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