Surgical Correction of the Lying Ear Deformities

In contrast to prominent ear, lying ear can be defined when the antihelix of the ear is excessively folded, i.e., the conchoscaphal angle is much less than 90°. In such case, ears may look smaller than the face. These patients want their ears to be exposed more. In Asia, there is also a tendency to prefer large and long ears. The objective of this study was to present a surgical method for correcting lying ear deformities.

From August 2017 to June 2018, 37 patients (72 ears) underwent surgery using our surgical method for lying ear deformities. After the cartilage was exposed on the posterior auricular surface, the fibrous band present at the conchoscaphal angle was released. Two longitudinal cartilage incisions were performed along the border of the antihelix. Horizontal mattress sutures were performed on the cartilage until the conchoscaphal angle was close to 90°. Onlay cartilage grafting was performed for the most severe portion of the deformity.

We performed reoperation for four patients due to recurrence (n = 2), under-correction (n = 1), and cartilage exposure (n = 1). Most patients obtained satisfactory aesthetic results.

There have been few reports of the surgical method for lying ear deformities. Our surgical method can provide satisfactory clinical outcomes for correcting lying ear deformities.

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