Download PDF
Semin Plast Surg 2017; 31(03): 152-160
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604241
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Protruding Ear: Cosmetic and Reconstruction

Kausar Ali
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
,
Jesse D. Meaike
2   Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
,
Renata S. Maricevich
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
,
Asaf Olshinka
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 August 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Ear prominence is a relatively common cosmetic deformity with no associated functional deficits, but with profound psychosocial impact, especially in young patients. Protruding ears in children have propagated surgical advances that incorporate reconstructive techniques. Here we outline a systematic framework to evaluate the protruding ear and present various reconstructive surgical options for correction. Both cosmetic and reconstructive perspectives should be entertained when addressing this anatomical deformity.

Keywords

protruding ear - prominent ear correction - otoplasty - cosmetic - reconstruction
 

  • References

  • 1 Janis JE, Rohrich RJ, Gutowski KA. Otoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 2005; 115 (04) 60e-72e
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Furnas DW. Otoplasty for prominent ears. Clin Plast Surg 2002; 29 (02) 273-288 , viii
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Janz BA, Cole P, Hollier Jr LH, Stal S. Treatment of prominent and constricted ear anomalies. Plast Reconstr Surg 2009; 124 (1, Suppl) 27e-37e
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Adamson JE, Horton CE, Crawford HH. The growth pattern of the external ear. Plast Reconstr Surg 1965; 36 (04) 466-470
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Siegert R, Weerda H, Remmert S. Embryology and surgical anatomy of the auricle. Facial Plast Surg 1994; 10 (03) 232-243
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Kelley P, Hollier L, Stal S. Otoplasty: evaluation, technique, and review. J Craniofac Surg 2003; 14 (05) 643-653
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Yugueros P, Friedland JA. Otoplasty: the experience of 100 consecutive patients. Plast Reconstr Surg 2001; 108 (04) 1045-1051 , discussion 1052–1053
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Weerda H. Classification of congenital deformities of the auricle. Facial Plast Surg 1988; 5 (05) 385-388
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Taboada-Suárez A, Brea-García B, Couto-González I, Vila-Moriente JL. Correction of protruding ears (Weerda grade I deformity) using knotless bidirectional barbed absorbable sutures. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014; 151 (06) 939-944
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Thorne CH. Otoplasty. In: Thorne CH. , ed. Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014: 530-536
    Google Scholar
  • 11 Macgregor FC. Ear deformities: social and psychological implications. Clin Plast Surg 1978; 5 (03) 347-350
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Cooper-Hobson G, Jaffe W. The benefits of otoplasty for children: further evidence to satisfy the modern NHS. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2009; 62 (02) 190-194
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Bradbury ET, Hewison J, Timmons MJ. Psychological and social outcome of prominent ear correction in children. Br J Plast Surg 1992; 45 (02) 97-100
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Ellis DA, Keohane JD. A simplified approach to otoplasty. J Otolaryngol 1992; 21 (01) 66-69
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Adamson PA, Litner JA. Otoplasty technique. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2007; 40 (02) 305-318
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Farkas LG, Posnick JC, Hreczko TM. Anthropometric growth study of the ear. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 1992; 29 (04) 324-329
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Balogh B, Millesi H. Are growth alterations a consequence of surgery for prominent ears?. Plast Reconstr Surg 1992; 90 (02) 192-199
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Mustardé JC. The treatment of prominent ears by buried mattress sutures: a ten-year survey. Plast Reconstr Surg 1967; 39 (04) 382-386
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Thorne CH, Wilkes G. Ear deformities, otoplasty, and ear reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2012; 129 (04) 701e-716e
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 McDowell AJ. Goals in otoplasty for protruding ears. Plast Reconstr Surg 1968; 41 (01) 17-27
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Byrd HS, Langevin CJ, Ghidoni LA. Ear molding in newborn infants with auricular deformities. Plast Reconstr Surg 2010; 126 (04) 1191-1200
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Leclère FM, Vogt PM, Casoli V, Vlachos S, Mordon S. Laser-assisted cartilage reshaping for protruding ears: a review of the clinical applications. Laryngoscope 2015; 125 (09) 2067-2071
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Mustardé JC. The correction of prominent ears using simple mattress sutures. Br J Plast Surg 1963; 16: 170-178
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Kaye BL. A simplified method for correcting the prominent ear. Plast Reconstr Surg 1967; 40 (01) 44-48
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Tramier H. Personal approach to treatment of prominent ears. Plast Reconstr Surg 1997; 99 (02) 562-565
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Converse JM, Wood-Smith D. Technical details in the surgical correction of the lop ear deformity. Plast Reconstr Surg 1963; 31: 118-128
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Stenstroem SJ. “Natural” technique for correction of congenitally prominent ears. Plast Reconstr Surg 1963; 32: 509-518
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Chongchet V. A method of antihelix reconstruction. Br J Plast Surg 1963; 16: 268-272
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Gibson T, Davis W. The distortion of autogenous cartilage grafts: its cause and prevention. Br J Plast Surg 1958; 10: 257-274
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Furnas DW. Correction of prominent ears with multiple sutures. Clin Plast Surg 1978; 5 (03) 491-495
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Gosain AK, Recinos RF. A novel approach to correction of the prominent lobule during otoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 2003; 112 (02) 575-583
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Spira M, McCrea R, Gerow FJ, Hardy SB. Correction of the principal deformities causing protruding ears. Plast Reconstr Surg 1969; 44 (02) 150-154
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Graham KE, Gault DT. Endoscopic assisted otoplasty: a preliminary report. Br J Plast Surg 1997; 50 (01) 47-57
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Mehta S, Gantous A. Incisionless otoplasty: a reliable and replicable technique for the correction of prominauris. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2014; 16 (06) 414-418
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Fritsch MH. Incisionless otoplasty. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2009; 42 (06) 1199-1208
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Handler EB, Song T, Shih C. Complications of otoplasty. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2013; 21 (04) 653-662
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar