An Effective Surgical Method for Correcting Different Degrees of Constricted Ears

The constricted ear, also known as cup ear or lop ear, is visually characterized by the curling and lidding of the helix. As the deformity intensifies, it also involves structural abnormalities of the antihelix, scapha, and triangular fossa, resulting in the auricle presenting a lidding, protrusion, decreased vertical height and low position appearance. Exploring a cost-effective treatment strategy for all Tanzer types of constricted ears remains a significant challenge.

Thirty-four patients with unilateral constricted ears who underwent surgical correction from January 2020 to January 2023 were enrolled in this study. Among them, there were two cases of Tanzer I, twenty-nine cases of Tanzer II, and three cases of Tanzer III. All patients were treated by using affected ear local skin flap and costal cartilage grafting technology, and their complications, aesthetic outcomes, and satisfaction were reviewed.

On a scale of symmetry, size, shape, and scarring, the average aesthetic score was 3.8 and all patients were satisfied with the corrective outcomes and overall appearance. Most patients showed transient edema and recovered at about 1 month after the surgery. No other complications were observed during the follow-up.

Our method maximizes the use of affected ear cartilage and skin through a simple incision, and with the assistance of single rib cartilage, each type of Tanzer constricted ear can be corrected effectively through a single procedure.

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