Framework changes using costal cartilage for microtia reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE

Since a known growth-of-cartilage framework is used for reconstruction of microtia under the Brent technique, we set out to address the behavior of the framework under the Nagata technique.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of costal cartilage auricular reconstruction procedures.

PATIENTS: A total of 28 patients who underwent costal cartilage auricular reconstruction between 1998 and 2005.

INTERVENTIONS: Reconstruction of microtia using the 2-stage Nagata technique.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The parameters checked were patient age at the time of reconstruction, follow-up time, and measurements of the auricular framework height and width both at the time of implantation (represented by the template size) and at final follow-up.

RESULTS

A significant change in auricular height and width was observed. The height decreased by 3.1%, while the width increased by 4.0%. This change was not influenced by follow-up time.

CONCLUSIONS

Auricular reconstruction with the Nagata technique was undertaken when the patients were aged 9 to 10 years, when the auricle had reached nearly its final size. According to our patient sample, it is our opinion that a policy change is unjustifiable.