Total Ear Replantation

Abstract

Since the first report of successful microsurgical ear replantation in 1980, there have been 12 other cases reported in the English literature. As the number of trained microsurgeons increases, the opportunity to treat the amputated ear with microsurgical techniques should become more common. The reported cases have involved a variety of different mechanisms of injury and methods of treatment. There have been three techniques used to revascularize the amputated ear successfully: primary vascular repair, vein grafting, and use of the superficial temporal vessels as a pedicled vascular leash. Through our own experience and a review of the literature, we have been able to identify certain clinical characteristics that help dictate which technique to use. We report four cases of successful ear replantation, review the various techniques that have been used successfully, and provide treatment recommendations for future consideration.

Pinna Injuries: Our Experience

“…Local flaps and skin grafts can be used if there is tissue loss and exposed cartilage 9 . Attempts should be made to preserve all remaining viable tissue 10 .Evacuation of pus and debridement of devitalised cartilage with intravenous antibiotics and daily wound dressing helped in minimizing secondary infection and cosmetic disfigurement of the external ear 11 .…”

Ohrmuschelverletzungen - Klassifizierung und Therapiekonzept

“…Die Verwendung von medizinischen Blutegeln ist dann legitim und effektiv, wie anhand der Falldarstellung gezeigt wurde. Diese Erfahrung deckt sich auch mit der anderer Autoren [23,24,41,48].…”

“…Weitere Fälle folgten und führten zur allgemeinen Anerkennung mikrochirurgischer Mög-lichkeiten [24,33,37,42,46].…”

Replantation of totally amputated ears

“…In the literature there are few reports of successful uncomplicated microsurgical replantations of totally amputated ears [4,5,6]. More often one can find reports on repairing the arterial system and the impossibility of repairing the veins.…”