[Evaluation of surgical techniques used in treating microtia for 35 years]

The author presents an evaluation of the results of surgical treatment in 346 patients with microtia, treated in the previous 35 years, by using different materials to reconstruct the auricle. The reasons for giving-up the application of xenogenic and allogenic cartilage as well as polyester-polypropylene implants to reconstruct the auricular skeleton are explained. A 17-year experience of using autogenic costal-cartilage to reconstruct the auricular skeleton helps to state that early and late complications have been reduced and satisfactory esthetic results have been obtained. To meet their need, the patients were treated for the associated malformations by means of plastic and reconstructive procedures and were referred to other specialists--orthodontic, otologic and prosthetic.