Evaluation and Treatment of the Deformed and Malformed Auricle

Abstract

Auricular malformations begin within the first few weeks of intrauterine growth. Less severe deformational abnormalities occur from abnormal fetal positioning. They can be corrected early after birth by simple reshaping and molding. No longer should the pediatrician wait for minor deformities to resolve spontaneously. The protruding ear may not be present at birth but may develop and worsen during the first year. The most severe anomalies require complex multistage reconstructions after other concomitant anomalies are excluded. The pediatrician must be an integral part of this reconstructive team.

Measuring attentional bias in children with prominent ears: A prospective eye-tracking study

“…1 Accordingly, the corrective surgery for this condition, otoplasty, is the most common aesthetic surgical procedure performed in children and adolescents. 2 Although there are no significant physiological consequences, 3 children with prominent ears often experience ridicule from their peers at school and other social settings.…”