[Plastic surgical reconstruction in microtia. A follow-up study]

During the period 1967-1987, 26 ear reconstructions were carried out in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. These 26 patients were followed up, partly from the hospital records and partly by means of a questionnaire. Twenty-two patients replied to the questionnaire. The average age was 8.8 years at the commencement of the reconstruction and the average duration of hospitalization was 41 days. The reconstructions employed autologous costal cartilage. Minor complications were observed in approximately half of the patients. One patient developed pneumothorax postoperatively and one lost the grafts on account of repeated infections. 77% of the patients stated that the operation had been worthwhile. 37% found the result disappointing while the remaining 63% considered that the results were better than they had anticipated or as they had anticipated. The operation had no effect on teasing by peers. It is concluded that ear reconstruction should be postponed till an older age and that thorough preoperative information to the patients is important. The operation of surgical ear reconstruction is regarded as a valuable offer to patients with microtia.