Background: The reconstructed auricle projection is an essential element of ear reconstruction. The novel use of an ear-shaped film with one or two "legs" can successfully provide a healthy auricular contour, length, and width, hence improving the three-dimensional (3D) contour of the reconstructed auricle.
Methods: Sixty-one patients (31 men and 30 women) with unilateral ear reconstruction (22 on the left and 39 on the right side) who underwent auricular reconstruction using the novel ear-shaped film at the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between February 2021 and June 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study.
Results: Using the Jarque-Bera and paired t-test, we found no statistically significant differences between the reconstructive and healthy ears in terms of length (5.93±0.56 vs. 5.89±0.49 cm, P=0.208), width (3.15±0.31 vs. 3.13±0.30 cm, P=0.224), height (2.48±0.33 vs. 2.51±0.36 cm, P=0.079), and perimeter (10.83±1.06 vs. 10.69±0.95 cm, P=0.164), using the novel ear-shaped film. The reconstructed auricle location was deemed satisfactory for all patients and their families.
Conclusions: The novel ear-shaped film may reflect the structure and height of the auricle during ear reconstruction surgery. Implementing this method is easy, and its impact is significant. This technique can be widely used in all types of otoplasties.
Keywords: Reconstructed auricle; congenital microtia; ear reconstruction; ear-shaped film.
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