A New Cartilage-Sparing Procedure for Correction of the Prominent Ear Deformity: Dermal Anchor Technique.

[BACKGROUND] Although the literature is replete with surgical techniques described for correction of the prominent ears, new techniques are still needed to minimize the recurrence rates and postoperative complications.

[OBJECTIVE] Here, the author presents a new and simple otoplasty procedure, namely, the dermal anchor technique (DAT), in which a wide planar adhesion between the opposing dermal surfaces of the deepithelized antihelical groove is used as a biological anchor for long-term maintenance of the antihelical fold without any cartilage manipulation.

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] For 12 years, this new procedure was used for correction of 76 prominent ears in 44 patients, with 17 being female and 27 being male. The ages of the patients ranged from 5 to 37 years. In 28 patients, the DAT was combined with conchal excision and/or concha-mastoid sutures as required, whereas it was used alone in the remaining 16 patients. The preoperative and postoperative distance between the ear and the head was measured at 4 points (superior helical point, superior conchal attachment, inferior conchal attachment, and lobules).

[RESULTS] All patients healed uneventfully. Except mild edema and pain, there was no postoperative problem. The mean follow-up time was 4½ years (4 months-10 years). During this time, there was no patient with surface irregularities and/or suture-related complications. Two patients required revision because of unilateral lateralization of the upper pole by time (recurrence rate, 2.63%). When the preoperative and postoperative superior helical point, superior conchal attachment, inferior conchal attachment, and lobule measurements for both ears of the patients who were operated on were compared, postoperative values were determined to be significantly decreased (P < 0.001).

[CONCLUSIONS] The DAT provides predictable and aesthetically satisfactory long-lasting results with a minimal risk of complications. Because it does not harm the cartilage tissue, it avoids the potential problems resulted from cartilage manipulations such as surface irregularities and chondritis. Covering the suture knots with a thick soft tissue layer, it eliminates the suture-related complications. Moreover, it offers a direct approach and does not require anterior dissection. Thus, it requires a shorter operative time, minimizes the risk of anterior skin necrosis and hematoma, and causes less postoperative pain, edema, and ecchymosis.