[Surgical correction of congenital cryptotia]

From 1983 to 1988, we have operated on eight cases of cryptotia. The method of operation was to deepen the cephalo-auricular sulcus and to obtain a normal position of the ear. 1. The local flap usually used is either a V-Y advancement flap or a rotated flap. The author designs two V flaps, the upper one near the auricle is rotated to provide tissue between the upper part of the auricle and temporal region which should be dissected deep enough. The other V-Y advancement flap is used to increase the transverse length of the auricle. 2. The contracted transverse, oblique and superior auricular muscular fibres are dissected. In children the insertion of the superior auricular muscle is transposed and sutured to the eminentia fossae. 3. The repair of the cartilagenous deformity of the auricle includes placing two to three parallel incisions on the back of the superior part and elevating and suturing the angulated superior third helix to the cut edge of the back of the auricle. Good results were obtained in all cases.