[Clinical study on external ear reconstruction using expanded postauricular flap and medpor framework].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of applying porous high density polyethylene (Medpor) as framework for auricle reconstruction of congenital or acquired auricular defects.

METHODS: From February 1999 to February 2004, 61 patients suffering from congenital or acquired auricular defects underwent auricle reconstruction with Medpor framework after expanding postauricular skin. Among them, there were 38 males and 23 females, aging from 5 to 61 years. In 40 cases of congenital microtia, two sides were involved in 1 case and one side in 39 cases. In 21 cases of traumatic auricle damage, two sides were involved in 6 cases and one side in 15 cases. The operation was performed by two stages. First stage: the expander was implanted underneath postauricular skin or soft tissue such as notrophic scar tissue for the traumatic auricle defect. Second stage:the expander was removed and auricle reconstruction was performed by placing Medpor framework between the expanded skin/scar flap and the underlying fascial flap.

RESULTS: Sixty-one patients obtained successfully reconstructed auricles. During a follow-up of 6 months to 5 years and 1 month (mean 2.8 years), the results were excellent and good in 49 cases (80.3%), fair in 7 cases (11.5%) and poor in 3 cases (4.9%), 2 cases (3.3%) underwent replacement of Medpor framework with autogenous costal cartilage after 6 months of operation.

CONCLUSION: Medpor framework would be applied safely, simply and reliably in condition that auricular framework is unfit or reluctant to undergo auricle reconstruction by using autogenous costal cartilage.