Otoplasty Blogs

Have you ever seen anyone who was missing a part or all of the ear? There are many ways an ear gets partially or totally amputated. But did you know that otoplasty can repair this condition for you?

What are the Reasons for Ear Amputation?

Have you ever seen anyone who was missing a part or all of the ear? There are many ways an ear gets partially or totally amputated. But did you know that otoplasty can repair this condition for you?

What are the Reasons for Ear Amputation?

• Unexpected accidents
  
  Car accidents, burns, dog bites, falls, or gunshot wounds can result in the loss of a part of the ear. In cases like these, your otoplasty surgeon’s goal is to reconstruct the affected pinna to create a symmetrical image of the ear on the opposite side.
  
  
• Auricular avulsion
  
  For accidents that cause total auricular amputation or avulsion, it is sometimes possible to reattach the amputated part using microsurgery. As long as the amputated ear was placed in ice directly after the accidental amputation and was not excessively crushed or damaged, this method may be possible.
  
  
• Cancer
  
  Skin cancer often involves the ear because the ear is subject to sun damage. Removal of skin cancer can sometimes leave a defect in the ear that patients want to reconstruct.
  
  
• Ear Infections
  
  One of the most common infections that can cause loss of a portion of the ear is when an ear piercing in the upper part of the ear gets infected. Because ear piercings in the earlobe do not go through cartilage, infections in the lobe are usually not as serious and rarely result in deformity. The upper 2/3 of the ear contains cartilage, however, and when a piercing in this area gets infected it can cause of loss of enough tissue to leave a deformity.

Techniques for partial ear reconstruction

When a portion of the ear is missing, the surgical repair usually requires the addition of cartilage for support as well as the skin on the front and back sides of the ear. In other words, the missing tissue is a sandwich of skin with cartilage in the middle and the reconstruction requires the addition of all three of those layers. Cartilage is usually obtained from the back of the ear or from the rib cartilage. The rib cartilage can be taken from the patient or obtained from a tissue bank. The cartilage is covered with skin, usually from behind the ear. These procedures usually require two stages.

Post-operative care and Recovery

These procedures are a little more delicate than a routing pin back otoplasty and require a little more care. As mentioned, these procedures often require two stages separated by a few months.

For otoplasty or ear reconstruction of any type, regardless of the severity, it is important to consult a surgeon with experience in this particular subspecialty of plastic surgery. Dr. Thorne is an expert with more than 30 years of experience in the field.

Dr. Thorne has successfully performed surgery for both infants and adults with every conceivable type of ear condition. He has one of the longest experience in ear reconstruction and otoplasty in North America. If you would like to schedule an appointment with him, just click here. He will gladly answer your questions and address any concerns about otoplasty and plastic surgery.