Splitted posterior auricular muscle flap combined with traditional otoplasty

This article presents a modified technique to split and reposition the posterior auricular muscle flap as an adjunct to traditional otoplasty.

Although numerous techniques have been described for the correction of prominent ear deformity, there is still a continuing debate on which operative method achieves the best results. Recurrence of the deformity or the need for secondary revisions is still among the common problems. We aimed to focus on a technical modification of the use of the postauricular muscle flap to strengthen the effect of otoplasty and to obtain more prominent results.

Twelve patients with prominent ears (total, 24 ears) were operated on and followed up at least 6 months. To determine the efficacy of the technique on the different parts of the ears, 2 distances of each ear to the scalp for both the superior and middle third of the ears were measured and compared before the surgery, early after the surgery, and late after the surgery.

The mean distances for both the upper and middle third of the ears were significantly lower (P < 0.05) at the end of the first month after the surgery. Although a millimetric slight rise was observed, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean postoperative results of the first and sixth months (P > 0.05).

The splitted posterior auricular muscle flap repositioning to the upper and middle third of the ear may be successfully performed adjunct to the conventional corrective otoplasty. According to the late postoperative results, it seems to be that a stronger and more permanent otoplasty may be obtained with the addition of a splitted and reinserted postauricular muscle flap to the traditional otoplasty.