Prosthetic Ears Versus Ear Reconstructive Surgery

• Read More About our Patients' Experiences with Ear Reconstructive Surgery Prior to Obtaining a Prosthesis

Parents are always looking for a solution to correct their child's ear deformity, i.e., Microtia, Artesia, Goldenhar Syndrome, and Treacher Collins Syndrome.  I am obviously very close to, and concerned about continuing the promotion and practice of ear reconstructive surgery.  My goal over the past nine years has been to reproduce replacement anatomy to the best of my abilities.  Whenever I encounter someone who does not share the same goal, I tend to express my views rather passionately.

It has been my experience that when a person comes to me with a less than adequate prosthesis, they're only out the cost of the item, and it is easily replaced.  When they come to me with a surgically disfigured attempt at ear reconstructive surgery, my options, and their last hopes, for a realistic anatomical replacement are limited.  Also, I am devastated to hear this non-predictable procedure continues to be recommended for younger patients.

Some of the reasons why the operations fall short of looking like a normal ear are as follows:

• Finding sufficient amount of tissue.
  
  

• There is not enough bulk tissue to get the reconstructive ear to stand away from the head and atrophy of tissue takes place.
  
  

• Color of tissue is a problem and scarring is always an issue.
  
  

• It is hard to get the rib cartilage to attach to the mastoid process.  It is just a movable graft and it does not anchor.
  
  

• Surgeons are working with distorted anatomy to begin with:  all of these items are against them in the beginning.  Thus, results fall short of realism.

Ear reconstructive surgery is always an option, however it is not reversible.  Prosthetic restoration is reversible.  A question for physicians who still practice this surgical travesty - "I wonder what option you would choose if the choice were on a personal level?"