Repair of Anterior Ear Defects Using Transcartilage Island Pedicle Flaps

Surgical reconstruction of the anterior surface of the ear (concha, antihelix, scapha, and triangular fossa) is complicated by the paucity of mobile local skin.

This is a retrospective study of the transcartilage island pedicle flap for reconstruction of surgical defects of the anterior ear.

Two hundred thirty-two Mohs micrographic surgery defects were included in the study. The technique involves circumferential incision of the flap in the postauricular sulcus, transfer of the flap to the anterior ear through a surgically created cartilage slit, suturing of the flap on the anterior surface of the ear, and repair of the secondary postauricular defect. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative details of each case were tabulated and analyzed.

The mean defect size was 1.9 × 1.5 cm. Complications included flap edema (n = 6, 2.6%), postoperative bleeding (n = 4, 1.7%), partial thickness flap necrosis (n = 2, 0.9%), pinning back of the ear (n = 2, 0.9%), and central flap dimpling (n = 2, 0.9%). There was 1 acute staphylococcal abscess and 1 sterile abscess that developed 13 months postoperatively. All complications resolved with medical or surgical management.

Transcartilage island pedicle flaps may be considered for single-stage surgical reconstruction of defects involving the anterior ear.