Management of Bone Bridge Exposure Using Superficial Temporal Island Flap After Auricle Reconstruction and Bone...

Congenital microtia usually lead to impairment of both appearance and hearing especially for patients with bilateral microtia. The simultaneous combination of auricular reconstruction and bone bridge implantation has been proved effective and satisfied with the patients. We retrospectively analyzed this method and the complication of it. We summarized and found the application of superficial temporal island flap for repairing the bone bridge exposure.

From January 2017 to December 2020, there were 84 patients who underwent the surgery of auricular reconstruction simultaneously combined with bone bridge implantation in the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. And after 12 months follow-up, we evaluated the postoperative effect and collected data on the patients who had bone bridge exposure. We analyzed the reason of the complication and covered the exposed bone bridge with superficial temporal island flap.

There were 3 cases (3.6%) of implant exposure and the surgical outcome was satisfactory using the repairment of superficial temporal island flap. All 3 patients were healed in 1-stage surgery, and no further implant exposure occurred after another 12-month follow-up.

The method of auricular reconstruction simultaneously combined with bone bridge implant is an optional choice for patients with bilateral microtia, and has a low incidence of implant exposure. The superficial temporal island flap could well fill the dead space and increase the wear resistance of the tissue, and the scar was not obvious. We found and summarized a satisfactory method of repairing the implantation exposure using the superficial temporal island flap.

Level IV, cases study.