[Complications of otoplasty and their treatment]

The multitude of otoplastic techniques, described in literature, which are based, as the case may be, on one of the three standard techniques for the correction of prominent ears, shows there is no single technique for satisfactory results. Hence, early and late complications can occur after otoplasty, both immediately and up to 2 weeks and later. These complications include granulomas, allergic reactions, keloids, reprotrusion as well as severe deformities with different defects, besides disturbances of sensitivity, often requiring repeat surgery. The management and treatment of the various complications are described and some reconstruction procedures are demonstrated, employing fascia, skin and cartilage to keep the damage at a minimum.