The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Molding Therapy for Infants with Deformational Auricular Anomalies
Abstract
Congenital auricular anomalies can be categorized as either malformed or deformational. Auricular deformations most commonly affect the helix and antehelix. Surgical correction involves sutural modeling, wedge excision, reshaping and reversing cartilage segments, and morselization. Since neonatal auricular cartilage is extremely pliable, we used early splinting to correct deformational ear anomalies. Splints were constructed of leadfree, soft soldering wire threaded into polyethylene tubing and held in place with Steri-Strips. From August 1995 through February 1996 we treated 19 infants with 32 deformed auricles: 10 infants were male and 9 were female, ranging in age from 1 day to 10 weeks. Thirteen infants had both ears affected. There were 8 prominent ears, 23 lop ears, 2 Stahl's ears, and 1 infant with an inverted concha. For prominent ears, the helical-mastoid distance decreased from an average of 16.8 to 12.2 mm, after an average of 13 weeks of splinting. Fourteen corrected lop ears had a normal appearance, and 9 were improved with minor residual deformity. There was only one complication: skin irritation requiring adjustment of the prosthesis. Five children had molding started after 3 months of age and all had no significant improvement. In addition, the parents of 5 children refused therapy and 12 children had either poor compliance to therapy or were lost to follow-up. Our experience with auricular molding confirmed that it is easy, effective, and inexpensive. If molded sufficiently early, most auricular deformations should not need surgical correction in childhood.
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In the citing paper
“Congenital auricle abnormalities are classified into two major categories: malformations and deformations.”
From Using Ear Molding to Treat Congenital Auricular Deformities (2021) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“Auricle deformations are characterized by a fully developed pinna without missing skin or cartilage (1, 2).”
From Using Ear Molding to Treat Congenital Auricular Deformities (2021) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“Tan et al. believed that non-invasive correction within 3 months of birth had an ideal effect, and that treatment timing was closely related to the duration of the curative effects (2).”
From Using Ear Molding to Treat Congenital Auricular Deformities (2021) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“Early diagnosis and treatment have been advised in earlier literature.24,41,42 Multiple articles in our review have echoed this.”
From Non-surgical Correction of Congenital Ear Anomalies: A Review of the Literature (2020) · cites this paper as [41]
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Items 101–116 of 116
Chen, Z., You, X., Cai, Z., Liu, Q., Du, L., Zhang, H., Cui, W., & Sheng, Y. (2020) · PubMed Central · doi:10.7507/1002-1892.201905130
Congenital Inverted Conchal Bowl Deformity: Proposed Technique
Dickey, R. M., Geisler, E. L., & Derderian, C. A. (2020) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000006513
Deformidades auriculares. Otoplastias
Martí-Carrera, E., Sedano, J. V. R., Longo, A. M., Merino‐Mateo, L., & Muñoz, M. D. D. (2021) · FMC - Formación Médica Continuada en Atención Primaria · doi:10.1016/j.fmc.2021.04.001
Can Diathermy Enhance Scoring in Otoplasty?
Gourlay, T., & Irune, E. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-35431-1_29
(2021) · Thieme Medical Publishers eBooks · doi:10.1055/b-0041-183146
Cugno, S., & Bulstrode, N. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-65381-7.00018-6
Joshi, N. S., Won, B., Jongbloed, W., & Castiglione, C. (2020) · Applied Head and Neck Anatomy for the Facial Cosmetic Surgeon · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-57931-9_21
Yap, L. H., & Jose, R. M. (2012) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b13389-63
Alshehri, A. A., Hadi, A. A., Alyami, L., Sulaiman, I. N. A., Hadi, E. M. A., & Hareth, S. Y. A. (2024) · Facial Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1055/s-0044-1790569
Ear Correction of Newborn Ear Deformity
Zhorov, I., Goldstein, M., & Carniol, E. T. (2024) · Facial Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1055/a-2453-6685
Chalwade, C. S., Mehta, V., Senthil Kumar, R. M., & Puri, V. A. (2025) · Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1055/s-0044-1801807
“1,6,10,15 After a few weeks postpartum, the ear becomes stiffer and less amenable to molding, which makes splinting more dif fi cult, although success can still be achieved with persistence.”
Chaudhry, A. S., Shtanko, Y., Wolfe, S. A., Lewin, S. L., & Mejía, M. (2025) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.81275
“Despite the effectiveness of ear molding for correcting milder auricular deformities, there is limited research on its application for microtia [7].”
Alexander, W. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-7234-9_70
Chen, C., Su, X., Weng, M., Lai, H., Ye, J., Zheng, H., Wang, M., & Lei, C. (2025) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.98363
“The feasibility of neonatal ear molding is mainly ascribed to the high concentration of proteoglycans, including hyaluronic acid, whose levels are elevated by the circulating maternal estrogen [3,5,8].”
van Lieshout, M. P. A., Damen, G. W. J. A., & Cals, F. L. J. (2026) · International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology · doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2026.112959 · Cited by 1
Metadata
- Authors
- Tan, S. T., Abramson, D. L., MacDonald, D. M., & Mulliken, J. B.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Annals of Plastic Surgery
- Published
- 1997-03
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 263-268
- ISSN
- 0148-7043 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2016167543
- Cited by
- 116
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of Plastic Surgery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics (clinical) › Congenital Ear and Nasal Anomalies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments
- Keywords
- prominent ears, lop ear, auricular cartilage, infants, conservative treatment, ear deformity
- MeSH terms
- Ear, External, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Splints, Treatment Outcome
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