Correction of protruding ears in combination with reduction surgery of hyperplastic auricles

Abstract

A special technique is presented for correction of protruding ears (otoclisis) simultaneously with reduction of hyperplastic auricles (otomioplasty). This method was developed at our Clinic for Plastic Surgery in Munich more than 30 years ago and has been tested and observed since with very satisfactory results. The first part of the procedure requires that, during the postauricular removal of the prominent cartilage in a layer-by-layer fashion, the scalpel be used tangentially always following the outline of the individual crural curvature to the anthelix margin and the auricle base. As the simultaneous reduction surgery continues, the special combination technique is executed by falciform excision of the cartilage of the superior helix margin, starting from the anterior fold of the auricle peripherally toward the scapha. After an anterior skin sickle excision is made, a new helix margin is created by eversion of the still intact skin of the posterior helix wall. Only then is the operation terminated by a wedge-shaped skin-cartilage excision of the outer superior part of the helix.