Auricular wedge resection and reconstruction

Various techniques have been described in the literature for auricular reconstruction after resection of both benign and malignant tumors of the auricle. Since 1981, I have performed simple wedge resections of the auricle as treatment for both basal and squamous cell carcinomas. A 4-mm margin on the former lesions and a 6-mm margin on the latter lesions have been used routinely. Thirty patients so treated were studied. The follow-up period for most of the patients was a minimum of one year, and only 1 patient had a recurrent lesion, which was resected without complication. The size of the lesions ranged from 4 mm to 3 cm. The majority of the lesions were either basal or squamous cell carcinomas (other lesions included melanomas, fibrous histiocytomas, and chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helices), and multiple frozen sections of the margins resected were carefully examined. The technique of reconstruction using polyglactin 910 sutures on the cartilage and a molded otoplasty dressing contributed to a good cosmetic result for all patients.