Antihelical Auricular Reconstruction With Adipoperichondrial Turnover Flap and Full-thickness Skin Graft

Reconstruction of the antihelical area can be challenging because the cartilage can be easily exposed due to the thin overlying soft tissue, and it has a lack of tissue mobility. Skin graft can be hesitant to perform in antihelical defects where the bare cartilage is exposed.A 70-year-old male with squamous cell carcinoma of the antihelix of the left ear was referred to our department for surgical excision. Wide excision with tumor-free margins resulted in a defect of 2.0 × 1.0 cm with exposed bare cartilage. The authors covered the defect using adipoperichondrial turnover flap from cephalic portion of the earlobe followed by full thickness skin graft. The skin graft took well with no complication. Aesthetic result was satisfactory with no auricular deformity.This adipoperichondrial turnover flap is simple, easy, can be performed in one stage, and produces good esthetic results with no disfiguration of the ear shape.