Otoplasty: Anterior Abrasion of Ear Cartilage with Dermabrader

Abstract

Background

The international literature describes many different techniques for correcting prominent ears. Some of these techniques use weakening of the anterior surface in an “open or close” way. Others use suturing of the unfold antihelix. Still others suture the concha with mastoid, and some combine several of these procedures. There is thus no most widely accepted single method. Since 1993, the senior author has used the described technique on a group of 40 patients (35 bilateral and 5 monolateral cases). Before 1993, the senior author always used an “open” technique, but the anterior cartilage was weakened by the partial parallel incision procedure.

Methods

In the current study, the surgical approach for cases with a normal or moderately deep concha consisted of open anterior otoplasty with cartilage abrasion by an electric burr alone. If the concha was severely hypertrophied, concha–mastoid suturing was combined with otoabrasion, as previously described.

Results

The follow-up period was a minimum of 16 months and a maximum of 8 years. Complications were rare and rapidly resolved. The outcome was successful whether the burr alone or a combined method was used.

Conclusions

The authors believe that anterior abrasion of ear cartilage is a useful, simple technique that is not too time consuming by which an immediate postoperative aesthetic improvement is reached. It also is more precise and safe than the partial parallel incision procedure.