Tissue-integrated prostheses in the rehabilitation of auricular defects: results with percutaneous mastoid implants

Functional and cosmetic rehabilitation of the severely atretic auricle poses a formidable challenge. Conventional autologous grafts for auricular reconstruction may produce inconsistent results, and revision of failed grafts is often unsatisfactory. Osseointegrated implant systems to retain auricular prostheses provide an alternative approach in rehabilitating patients with severe auricular defects. Fourteen patients were implanted with 30 osseointegrating implants for rehabilitating major auricular defects and were followed for 1 to 3.5 years, yielding 143 implant observations. Symptomatic skin reactions to the percutaneous implant were noted in 3.5 percent of the observations. Implant extrusion did not occur. This evaluation of tissue-integrated prosthetic systems suggests this approach to be an extremely reliable alternative for selected patients with major auricular defects. The technique of implanting the retention unit is readily adapted to atresia repair.