[Microtia: a new chronology for the total external ear reconstruction. A retrospective study of eight cases]

After 14 months of personal training with Professor Ichinose's team in Chiba (Japan), the author reports a new chronology of the total external ear reconstruction for microtia. This approach, proposed by Dr Yoshimoto, subtracts in time spent on creating the cartilaginous framework from the total general anesthesia time. The principles of this technique and its chronology are described. The results of eight patients operated according to this method between February 1994 and October 1999 are analyzed and compared to the 35 previous reconstructions performed by this team. The advantage of this chronology has been established: this method allows a considerable reduction of the general anesthesia time, a rationalization of the cost of these reconstructions, an increased comfort for the patients and an easier learning process for young plastic surgeons.