Auricular displacement with rhytidectomy.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Anatomy
• Photogrammetry

Background:

• The auricle's mobility during rhytidectomy is often underestimated.
• Auricular displacement can be masked by other surgical changes, like hairline elevation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify auricular displacement after rhytidectomy.
• To identify the causes and patterns of auricular displacement during rhytidectomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of before-and-after photographs from published rhytidectomy results.
• Computer-assisted photogrammetric comparison of auricular position.

Main Results:

• Auricular displacement was observed in 62% of analyzed rhytidectomy cases.
• Displacement typically occurred in an anteroinferior direction with inferior pole rotation.
• Surgical tension on the periauricular superficial musculoaponeurotic system/platysma and skin during closure was implicated.

Conclusions:

• The auricle is susceptible to displacement during rhytidectomy due to surgical tension.
• Awareness of potential auricular displacement is crucial for accurate surgical assessment and outcomes.