A Study on the Nonsurgical Correction Treatment Age Window and Long-Term Follow-Up of Infants With Congenital Ear Anomalies in China

Mengshuang Lv; Yujie Liu; Peiwei Chen; Jikai Zhu; Wenxi Qiu; Danni Wang; Shouqin Zhao

doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000010125

A Study on the Nonsurgical Correction Treatment Age Window and Long-Term Follow-Up of Infants With Congenital Ear Anomalies in China

J Craniofac Surg. 2024 Apr 26. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010125. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mengshuang Lv¹, Yujie Liu, Peiwei Chen, Jikai Zhu, Wenxi Qiu, Danni Wang, Shouqin Zhao

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

PMID: 38666783
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010125

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of ear molding across various initial ages and analyze challenges encountered by infants beyond the optimal treatment age window.

Methods: A retrospective review of 331 infants (527 ears) treated with EarWell was conducted over 5 years from January 2017 to March 2022 at a single center. The treatment duration of the ear molding, success rate, recurrence rate, and complication rate were analyzed among the 3 age groups. Concentrate on evaluating treatment outcomes for infants with an initial age exceeding 42 days.

Results: The mean age at initial treatment was 25±28 days. In addition, it includes a child with cryptotia who is 3.5 years old (1278 d). The mean duration of treatment was 7±5 weeks. In the long-term follow-up, the overall treatment success rate was 92%, with 467 ears (88.6%) showing improvement without recurrence, 30 ears (5.7%) experiencing varying degrees of recurrence, and 30 ears (5.7%) showing no improvement or complete recurrence. A total of 20 infants (3%) developed mild skin complications during treatment.

Conclusions: Ear molding is a safe and effective option for the treatment of congenital ear anomalies, with a low recurrence rate during long-term follow-up. For infants with congenital auricular anomalies aged over 42 days, ear molding remains a viable option. Treatment success may be influenced by the age at treatment, the subtype of anomalies, and relies on the assessment of a specialized otologist, expert procedural techniques, as well as thorough understanding and cooperation from parents.