Infra-Auricular Flap for Single Stage Ear Lobe Reconstruction

Background: Ear lobe deformity may be congenital or
more often acquired due to trauma, burns or surgery. Losing
them represents an obvious aesthetic abnormality. Its surgical
repair places a challenge due to the difficulty of obtaining a
natural appearing and durable outcome. Several methods
developed to reconstruct this deformity have presented various
advantages and disadvantages. We present the results of a
relatively simple technique to reconstruct ear lobe in a single
stage.
Patients and Methods: In this study, we used proximally
based infra auricular flap to reconstruct 5 ear lobes in the
period from February 2015 to July 2016 in Plastic Surgery
Department, Minia University Hospital and private sector.
Surgical procedure was performed under local anaesthesia in
all cases. Except one case, we followed cases for 6 months
post-operatively.
Results: Mean operative time was 40 minutes. Mean age
was 32 years. All flaps survived. One patient required secondary
sutures for partial ear wound dehiscence due to early
removal of stitches.
Conclusion: The author outlines a simple method for
reconstructing the entire lobe in one stage, without grafts,
whilst offering a pleasant appearance with minimal donor site
morbidity. The technique is suggested to reconstruct all cases
of ear lobe defects.