ARTICLE | BEST PRACTICE |


MAXIMAL BENEFIT WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART SURGERY


OTOPLASTY TODAY:


Alexander Berghaus and Thomas Braun review the available literature and discuss issues of best practice when undertaking otoplasty surgery


ABSTRACT The variety of otoplasty techniques can be grouped into three basic concepts: cutting, scoring, and pure suture techniques. Not only can suture techniques effectively create the antihelical fold, correct the concha cavum and a protruding lobule, but they also have the lowest risk of undesired creases, edges, defects, or deformities that are difficult to correct. By using biocompatible suture material, complications are rare. Studies using validated tools show that successful otoplasty using suture techniques leads to a significant and long-lasting increase in the health-related quality of life of children and adults suffering from protruding ears. The authors have therefore relinquished any aggressive cutting and scoring techniques and avoid skin resections. If a revision is needed, the prospect for success is excellent owing to the preserved cartilage and skin.


ALEXANDER BERGHAUS, MD, is Professor and Head, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany; THOMAS BRAUN, MD, is Resident, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.


email: thomas.braun@med.uni- muenchen.de


46 ❚


a decline in the patientÕs health-related quality of life, loss of self-confidence, social avoidance, and poor school or job performance1–3


P April/May 2012 | prime-journal.com


ROMINENT EARS DO NOT HAVE ANY physiological disadvantages and are classified as only a minor auricular deformity. However, a number of studies show that the emotional stress caused by teasing owing to protruding ears leads to


. Furthermore, attractive


individuals are judged to be socially more desirable and are expected to have better prospects in both their social and professional lives4


; accordingly, a negative


evaluation of personal attractiveness in children is associated with dysphoria5


. Therefore, as approximately


5% of the population suffer from prominent ears, otoplasty is the most common aesthetic surgery in children and adolescents6, 7


.


KEYWORDS otoplasty, techniques, best practice, benefit, risks


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