Anthropometric Difference of Unilateral Microtia Reconstructed Auricle

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Microtia reconstruction aims to restore ear aesthetics and function.
• Autologous costal cartilage is a common method for auricular reconstruction.
• Objective anthropometric evaluation is crucial for assessing surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare anthropometric differences between reconstructed and normal auricles in microtia patients.
• To evaluate the surgical outcomes of auricular reconstruction using autologous costal cartilage.
• To identify reliable anthropometric indicators for successful microtia reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 20 unilateral microtia patients.
• Auricular reconstruction performed using autologous costal cartilage.
• Anthropometric measurements (width/lobule width, height/lobule height ratios) from auricle photographs analyzed via paired t-test.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the auricle width-to-lobular width ratio (P > .05).
• Significant difference in the auricle height-to-lobular height ratio (P < .05) between reconstructed and normal auricles.
• Demonstrated variability in anthropometric outcomes post-reconstruction.

Conclusions:

• Auricular reconstruction with costal cartilage yields different anthropometric results compared to normal ears, particularly in height.
• The auricle width-to-lobular width ratio may serve as a more objective and reliable indicator for evaluating microtia reconstruction success.
• Further research should validate the width ratio as a standard outcome measure.