Novel thermoplastic splint for treating congenital auricular deformities with late initiation of treatment

Non-surgical treatment for congenital auricular deformities is commonly performed and has relatively favorable outcomes. However, delayed treatment could result in a poor response rate, eventually requiring surgical treatment. Effective non-surgical treatment for cases with late initiation of treatment is therefore required. We conducted a retrospective study of the treatment of congenital auricular deformity using a splint produced from a combination of thermoplastic resin and safety pins. Patients who visited our institution between March 2017 and March 2023 were included in the study. Treatment efficacy was determined from clinical photographs and statistically examined in relation to the initiation of treatments. We assessed how the timing of initiation of treatment affects the treatment response rate. Overall, 24 children (32 ears) were enrolled in our study, 22 of whom started treatment after 6 weeks of birth. Irrespective of the timing of initiation of such treatment, many patients responded to the treatments (29/32 ears). Treatment response rates were compared between two groups, depending on whether it was initiated before or after 12 weeks of age. However, there was no significant difference in the outcomes or duration of treatment according to the timing of its initiation. Our splint brought favorable results in our cohort, even when treatment was started after 12 weeks. The splint is inexpensive, possesses few adverse events and can be fine-tuned. Expanding the age range for non-surgical treatment is suggested to reduce the patient burden.