Surgical Correction of Cryptotia Using a Postauricular Myofascial Flap and Skin Graft

Cryptotia is a common congenital auricular deformity in which the upper ear is constricted and buried beneath the temporoparietal scalp. Various surgical techniques have been reported for the correction of cryptotia, whereas an optimum surgical protocol is still being explored. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency and reliability of a new method for cryptotia correction.

Twenty-six patients with 32 ears were included in this study. A new method combined with postauricular myofascial flap and skin graft was used for correcting cryptotia. After the curly auricular cartilage release correction, the posterior auricular fascial flap was lifted forward and folded as a support to fix the auricular cartilage, so as to maintain a normal position of the auricle, deepen the cranioauricular groove and correct the Cryptotia. Subsequently, the wound in the mastoid and retroauricular regions was covered with a full-thickness skin graft taken from the groin.

All patients exhibited a good response with respect to aesthetic and functional aspects (possibility of wearing glasses and masks). The contour of the corrected auricles was basically the same as that of the contralateral side. Scar hyperplasia occurred in both the groin and postauricular area in one patient. The overall result based on the 4-point Likert scale was good.

The method of using a postauricular myofascial flap combined with skin graft has proven to be a simple and reliable technique for correction of cryptotia. All corrections were performed in one stage.