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Immediate Ear Lobule Reconstruction After Melanoma Resection
Elizabeth E Bushong1,2, Ewa Komorowska-Timek2,3
1Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|July 26, 2022
Summary
This study presents a novel 2-stage ear lobule reconstruction technique for melanoma excision. The method uses a direct template and cartilage graft to restore the ear
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Dermatologic Surgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Melanoma excision from the ear lobule presents challenges in balancing oncologic clearance with aesthetic preservation.
- Ear deformities post-excision can lead to significant psychological distress.
Observation:
- A case report details a 72-year-old male with earlobe melanoma requiring complete excision.
- A novel 2-stage reconstruction technique was employed immediately following tumor resection.
Findings:
- The technique utilizes a direct template of the excised lobule to precisely sculpt a contralateral conchal cartilage graft.
- The cartilage graft was banked subcutaneously for 8.5 weeks before the second-stage reconstruction.
- This immediate 2-stage approach successfully recreated the ear lobule's size and shape, avoiding soft tissue contracture.
Implications:
- This technique offers a method for immediate ear lobule reconstruction after melanoma excision, minimizing deformity.
- Successful reconstruction aids in the patient's psychological recovery by restoring a unique facial structure.
- The use of a direct template represents a novel approach to auricular reconstruction.
