Efficacy analysis of non-invasive correction for congenital cryptotia with auricular cartilage deformities.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy of non-invasive correction for congenital cryptotia with auricular cartilage deformities in infants.

METHODS

A total of 42 cases of congenital cryptotia with auricular cartilage deformities treated with non-invasive auricular correctors in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2023 were collected. The enrolled children were divided into four groups (A: less than 28-days, B: 28-90 days, C: 90-180 days, D: more than 180-days) based on age. The effective rate, treatment time, complications, and recurrence rate of non-invasive auricular correction among the four groups were compared.

RESULTS

After treatment with non-invasive auricular correctors, all four groups of children showed 100% effectiveness. The upper part of the children's auricles that were embedded in the temporal subcutaneous tissue improved compared to before correction, with high improvement rates in groups A and B for the correction of cartilage deformities, and the auricular shape basically returned to normal appearance after cartilage correction. In group D, the embedded part improved compared to before correction, but there was no significant change in cartilage deformities. Regarding treatment time, there was no statistical difference between groups B and C (p > 0.05), but there were statistical differences among the other groups. In terms of complications, groups A, B, C, and D showed statistical differences (p < 0.05). In terms of recurrence rate, after six months of observation, no cases of the auricular cartilage being re-embedded under the skin or cartilage deformities recurring after correction were observed in any of the four groups.

CONCLUSION

The effect of non-invasive correction for congenital cryptotia with auricular cartilage deformities in infants is significant, with shorter correction times, higher correction rates for cartilage deformities, and fewer complications for those under three months old; older children can still consider non-invasive correction, but the correction time is relatively longer, and for those over six months old, the correction is still effective, but the rate of correction for cartilage deformities is lower, and there are more complications.