Anthropometry of the normal and defective ear

Surface measurements of the ear are needed to assess damage in patients with disfigurement or defects of the ears and face. Population norms are useful in calculating the amount of tissue needed to rebuild the ear to adequate size and natural position. Anthropometry proved useful in defining grades of severe, moderate, and mild microtia in 73 patients with various facial syndromes. The division into grades was based on the amount of tissue lost and the degree of asymmetry in the position of the ears. Within each grade the size and position of the ears varied greatly. In almost one-third, the nonoperated microtic ears were symmetrically located, promising the best aesthetic results with the least demanding surgical procedures. In slightly over one-third, the microtic ears were associated with marked horizontal and vertical asymmetries. In cases of horizontal and vertical dislocation exceeding 20 mm, surgical correction of the defective facial framework should precede the building up of a new ear. Data on growth and age of maturation of the ears in the normal population can be useful in choosing the optimal time for ear reconstruction.