Complications of otoplasty
Abstract
Prominent ears are a fairly common and emotionally charged facial variation. Both children and adults may suffer a damaged psyche secondary to outside ridicule and self-criticism from ears that "stick out." The external ear anatomy is intricate, with thin skin and resilient cartilage. These underlying characteristics make the ears prone to the overt display of surgical correction. This article details the various acute and chronic complications of otoplasty and includes tips and pearls to help prevent and treat these occurrences.
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Sole skin excision presented the highest recurrence rates, followed by cartilage moulding techniques, then by cartilage breaking techniques, which showed the lowest rates of recurrence.
“Sole skin excision presented the highest recurrence rates, and this was followed by cartilage moulding techniques, then by cartilage breaking techniques, which showed the lowest rates of recurrences [22].”
From Otoplasty through Ventral Skin Incision and Shaping of the Antihelix by Abrasion—A Retrospective Study (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
The recurrence rate in ear protrusion of 5% is comparably low, as current literature suggests rates between 3% and 12% depending on the individual technique applied.
“our data show a comparably low rate of recurrence in ear protrusion (5%; Table 1), as current literature suggests rates between 3% and 12% [22,23] depending on the individual technique applied.”
From Otoplasty through Ventral Skin Incision and Shaping of the Antihelix by Abrasion—A Retrospective Study (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
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- Authors
- Handler, E. B., Song, T., & Shih, C.
- Affiliations
- Kaiser Permanente (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shih, Charles
- Venue
- Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-11
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 653-662
- ISSN
- 1064-7406 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2079396793
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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
- otoplasty, prominent ears, postoperative complications, acute complications, chronic complications, auricular cartilage, complication prevention, complication treatment
- MeSH terms
- Cosmetic Techniques, Ear, External, Humans, Postoperative Complications
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