Delayed Reconstruction of Ear Lobule With Conchal Cartilage Rotational Flap

The earlobe plays a critical role in facial aesthetics and balance. Large, full-thickness defects of the earlobe present a unique reconstructive challenge due to the absence of cartilage and the need for long-term volume and contour maintenance.

To describe a novel 2-phase surgical technique for earlobe reconstruction utilizing a cartilage graft.

Between 2010 and 2019, 12 patients underwent earlobe reconstruction using this technique. In the first phase, a cheek flap was created, and a cartilage graft was harvested and implanted into the lobular defect. Six weeks later, the second phase involved refining the lobule with a V-Y advancement flap and grafting the posterior aspect with a full-thickness skin graft. Patient outcomes were evaluated based on patient satisfaction and complication rates.

The cohort included 12 patients aged 29 to 82 years, comprising congenital deformities (n=3), traumatic arteriovenous malformations (n=2), and post-resection defects from skin malignancies (n=7). The technique was successfully applied across all cases, achieving aesthetically pleasing results with no recorded complications.

This 2-phase reconstruction technique offers a reliable and effective solution for large earlobe defects. Further studies with larger cohorts and extended follow-up periods are needed to validate these findings.