A Cartilage-Saving Technique for Tragus and Antitragus Fabrication in Auricular Reconstruction.

Background

For auricular reconstruction surgery using autologous costal cartilage, younger patients typically have a limited amount of costal cartilage available.

Objective

We introduce a cartilage-saving technique for fabricating the tragus and antitragus, and evaluate its effectiveness based on aesthetic score and complications.

Methods

For tragus fabrication, the residual part of the seventh costal cartilage was reoriented by 90° to increase its height and carved into a seagull-shaped structure. The antitragus was constructed by bending the antihelix and stabilizing it on the broadened base frame. Postoperative aesthetic outcomes and complications were documented and analyzed.

Results

This study included a total of 658 patients with lobule-type microtia, of whom 356 (54.1%) were male and 302 (45.9%) were female. The average age was 6.5 ± 0.7 years, and the average follow-up period was 13.6 ± 3.5 months. The average aesthetic outcome score was 9.0 ± 0.7. Wound dehiscence at the tragus was seen in four patients, while circulation disturbance at the incisura intertragica area was noted in six patients.

Conclusions

This cartilage-sparing technique demonstrated effectiveness in shaping aesthetic tragus and antitragus.