Further Refinements in Otoplasty Surgery: A Modified Approach to Prevent Suture Extrusion in Cartilage-Suturing Otoplasty Using a Postauricular Dermofascial Flap.

BACKGROUND

Suture extrusion has been reported to be the most common complication after cartilage-sparing otoplasty. Several studies have described various designs of postauricular flaps to cover the cartilage sutures and reduce the incidence of suture extrusion.

METHODS

A total of 100 consecutive patients with prominent ears were operated on between January of 2018 and February of 2023 using a deepithelialized postauricular dermofascial flap that is performed as an adjunct to the authors' cartilage-sparing otoplasty technique, which is essentially a combined modified Mustardé and Furnas technique. The flap is used to cover the cartilage-holding sutures with an extra layer of vascularized tissue to avoid the scar being directly over these sutures.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 12 years (interquartile range, 9 to 15). One out of the 100 patients (1%) developed a postauricular skin infection requiring surgical removal of sutures. Primary suture extrusion did not occur; in an earlier study of cartilage-sparing technique without the postauricular flap, 17 out of 200 patients had suture extrusion ( P = 0.001). No hematoma occurred that necessitated return to the theater. Skin necrosis and wound dehiscence did not occur in any case. No patient developed cartilage deformities or relapse requiring surgical correction.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining cartilage-sparing otoplasty using sutures and the described postauricular dermofascial flap is simple to perform and has significantly reduced the complication rate and improved the outcome compared with cartilage-sparing otoplasty alone. This flap is recommended for both primary and revisional otoplasty.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.