A Modification of the Posterior Perichondrio-Adipo-Dermal Flap for Protruding Ear Correction: A Customized Technique

Abstract

Prominent ear deformity is a common congenital deformity of the external ear affecting 5% of the general population. Because of the deformity's displeasing nature, corrective prominent ear surgery is widely common and performed as a prophylactic surgery. More than 200 surgical techniques for the correction of prominent ear deformity have been described to improve the cosmetic outcome and decrease complication rates. The aim of the study was to present a modified post auricular flap technique that increases the control of reshaping the ear cartilages, decreases the operation time, and provides a symmetrical long-lasting cosmetic outcome.One hundred sixty-two patients (141 male and 21 female) had ear correction surgeries performed by the same surgeon using the described technique between January 2015 and January 2018. One hundred sixty patients were gone through bilateral ear correction, whereas only 2 patients had unilateral ear correction procedures. A modified posterior perichondrio-adipo-dermal flap technique for protruding ear correction was applied to all patients.The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 40 years, with a median of 28.3 years. The mean follow-up time was 22.5 months (6-36 months). Total operation time was 35 minutes on average (25-45 minutes). As more experience was gained in flap harvesting, operation time became shorter. The mean preoperative upper third ear proportion-scalp distance was 33.1 mm and the middle third ear proportion-scalp distance was 29.8 mm. At the sixth month of the surgery, the measurements were 9.8 and 11.6 mm.Measuring and adjusting flap's width provided to achieve symmetry in initial technique. Locating the postoperative scar along the posterior surface of the helical groove also provides a natural view. Different from traditional posterior fascial flap, the width of the flap was narrowed to 8 to 10 mm. In the traditional technique, the flap was dissected along the incision margins. Narrowing the width of the flap decreased the operation time. The preserved skin between the helix and the mastoid bone has the same width with perichondrio-adipo-dermal flap. That increases the control over the helix-mastoid distance and posterior auricular fold not to mention provides permanent results. The previously mentioned method can be a simple, useful, and practical technique for protruding ear deformity.