[The correction of cryptotia with tissue expanders]

Cryptotia is a congenital abnormality represented by the absence of the retroauricular sulcus in its superior portion. As the physiopathology of the problem involves the lack of skin tissue in the superior part of the ear sulcus, Mulliken suggested for the first time in 1988, the use of skin expanders as a method to obtain the extra skin necessary to correct this deformity. We bring forward our experience in the use of skin expanders in the treatment of three patients with cryptotia, bilateral in one of them. The technical aspects of the operations as well as the types of expanders used are described in detail. In all cases the correction of the cartilagenous deformities, freeing of the superior pole of the ear and redefinition of the retroauricular sulcus were performed. There were no significant complications. There was no change of the initial good results after a two years follow-up.