Thermosensitivity in a reconstructed microtic ear.

The aim of this study was to evaluate thermo-thresholds in autologous reconstructed microtic ears. Nineteen patients with unilateral microtia were investigated no less than two years after the last operation (3.6+/-1.7 years). Their normal corresponding ear acted as controls. Eight healthy children were also investigated to illustrate technical differences between measuring the two sides. Thermal sensitivity was tested quantitatively using a SENSELab MSA Thermotest. The skin temperature was also tested. Three different areas of the ear were examined: the lobe, the antihelix, and the helix. The reconstructed ear had a significantly higher skin temperature for all investigated areas compared with the normal ear (reconstructed ear 30.2+/-1.2 degrees C, normal ear 28.6+/-0.9 degrees C). For the controls there were no significant differences in any area. For the patients there were small differences in perception of cold between the reconstructed and the normal ear. There were significant differences in the antihelix region and the helix in heat perception in the reconstructed ear compared with the normal one (helix reconstructed ear 43.9+/-3.8 degrees C, helix normal ear 38.3+/-3.0 degrees C, antihelix reconstructed ear 39.9+/-3.0 degrees C, antihelix normal ear 36.4+/-1.7 degrees C). The reconstructed ear had a changed thermosensitivity, but there did not seem to be any clinical disadvantages.