Ear Deformities – Standard Rib Cartilage Method: Stages to Correct Microtia
For most patients, completing the ear reconstruction takes four stages. These steps are spaced 2-3 months apart to allow for healing. Most patients do not experience any significant ear discomfort with any of the stages. Blood transfusions are not required.
- Stage 1 Rib Graft
Hospital stay—two to three days.
Return Visit—seven days after surgery.
Age for Surgery—5-6 years old optimal, but any age afterwards. Head bandages for ten days. - Stage 2 Earlobe
Hospital Stay—outpatient and discharged same day.
Return Visit—stitches removed after one week.
Timing of Surgery—minimum two months after Stage 1. - Stage 3 Elevation or Lifting
Hospital Stay—outpatient and discharged same day.
Return Visit—one week after surgery.
Timing of Surgery—at least three months after Stage 2 completed. - Stage 4 Tragus & External Canal
Hospital Stay—outpatient and discharged same day.
Return Visit—one week after surgery.
Timing of Surgery—at least three months after Stage 3 completed.
Additional Surgery for Bilateral Microtia — Double-sided Ear Problem
Bilateral microtia involves two ears, instead of one. Only ten percent of all microtia cases are bilateral. Dr. Jones integrates the reconstruction of the two ears such that work on both ears is performed in parallel, minimizing any delays while not allowing the two reconstructions to interfere with one another. The second ear reconstruction can be started as early as six weeks after the first rib graft surgery has been completed. Two months after the latter Stage 1 (i.e. second ear rib graft) surgery, both ear lobes can be positioned simultaneously at one surgical setting. Then, after three months, the ear can be separated from the head (Stage 3), followed by the other side six weeks later (Stage 3 for the second ear). Depending on the case, Stage 4 is completed six weeks after Stage 3 for the first ear, and another six weeks later for the second ear. At certain cases, Stage 4 is not necessary. In conclusion, the time elapsed for completing bilateral microtia surgeries is about a year.
Restrictions after Surgery
Children are restricted from playing sports for 4-5 weeks; teenagers and adults for 6 weeks. Children are restricted from playing sports for 4-5 weeks; teenagers and adults for 6 weeks. This is not done so much for the ear as for the chest wound. It is important to allow sufficient time to heal before the patient resumes running, jumping, bicycling, or swimming. Once back to playing sports, the patient can play with no special protection and can participate like anyone else in most activities. The ears constructed by Dr. Jones are made out of the patient’s own living tissues and can tolerate bumping and trauma like a normal ear. However, unusually traumatic activities such as boxing are discouraged. During activities when the patient wears a helmet (such as motor cycling or football), it is best to make necessary adjustments to the helmet to ensure it fits the new ear properly.
Middle Ear Surgery — The Hearing Surgery
The purpose of the middle ear surgery is to improve hearing. It is important to complete the outer ear surgery before beginning the middle ear surgery. If the middle ear surgery were to be done first, the scarring from it would make it more difficult to reconstruct an external ear. surgery. Dr. Jones is unique in his field of external ear reconstruction, because he also has extensive background in middle ear surgery. Dr. Jones spent four years in training at Johns Hopkins for middle ear surgery and is board certified in ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery). This unique training in both the internal (hearing) and the external ear allows him to work intimately with the referring Otologist (middle ear expert) in planning the total reconstruction effort so that the external ear reconstructive surgery does not compromise (and vice versa) the middle ear surgery.
Other Congenital Deformities
The range of congenital ear deformities is immense—from gigantic ears to miniature ears, from wide to narrow, from lack of folds to lack of earlobes. The cup ear, lop ear, lidded helix, canoe ear, cockleshell ear, and constricted ear are all different variations of ear deformities. Most can be corrected, or at least improved upon, with surgery. All repairs are customized by Dr. Jones to best suit the deformity and have to be individually assessed.
Dr. Jones’ Innovative Microtia Repair And Ear Reconstruction Techniques:
- Dr. Jones’ Innovative Microtia Repair Techniques
- The Integrated Cartilage Graft (ICG)
- Wrap Around Earlobe (WAE)
- Juxtaposition Ear (JE)
- Bespoke Ear (BE)
Contact us today for consultation with Dr. Mark Mitchell Jones and to determine if this innovative procedure is right for you or a member of your family.