Osseointegrated implants for auricular prostheses: An alternative to autologous repair

This study compares the hospital cost of osseointegrated implants for retention of an auricular prosthesis to autologous ear reconstruction.

Retrospective review.

This study includes patients who underwent reconstruction for either congenital or acquired ear defects at Duke University Medical Center during 2009 to 2015.

A total of nine patients had autologous repair representing nine operative ears, and 16 patients had an osseointegrated implant representing 18 operative ears (two bilateral). The average age for the autologous repair was 11.6 years with 56% male versus 40.7 years with 56% male for the osseointegrated implant patients. For autologous patients, indications for surgery were anotia/microtia in 8/9 (89%) and trauma in 1/9 (11%) versus 6/16 (387.5%) anotia/microtia, 8/16 (50%) cancer, and 2/16 (132.5%) trauma in the osseointegrated implant group. The mean number of surgeries was 3.1 for autologous repairs and 1.0 for osseointegrated repairs (mean difference confidence interval [CI]: -2.4 to -1.8, P < .001). The average cost to the hospital for an osseointegrated repair was $6,491.39 versus $10,047.93 for autologous repairs (CI: $6,496.38 to $-616.68, P = .02) CONCLUSIONS: Osseointegrated implants for retaining an auricular prosthesis has a similar cost to autologous repair of ear defects, but patients underwent an average of two more surgeries with autologous repair. Patients should be able to choose the reconstruction option that best suits their condition and preferences.

4. Laryngoscope, 128:2153-2156, 2018.