Results of a recent study suggest that incisionless otoplasty is a reliable and replicable technique for correcting prominauris.
The study, led by Toronto plastic surgeon Andres Gantous, M.D., is based on a review of electronic medical records for 72 patients with prominauris — ranging in age from three to 55 years, with most being adults — who had undergone incisionless otoplasty by a single surgeon from November 2006 to April 2013. The mean follow-up time for outcomes was 31 months and included 70 patients.
The researchers found no significant difference in the number of sutures used in the left ear as compared with the right: a mean of 2.5 sutures in the left, 2.48 in the right. All patients had horizontal mattress sutures placed for correction of prominauris. No serious perioperative complications — such as infection, bleeding, hematoma, perichondritis or cartilage necrosis — were observed. Complications were seen in 10 patients: four were due to suture failure, three to suture exposure, two to granuloma formation and one to a Polysporin reaction. Nine patients needed a revision to achieve a desirable result.
“The most significant finding from this study is that we were able to show that the incisionless otoplasty technique is a good option in treating prominent ears — equal to or better than the more traditional techniques and very safe,” Dr. Gantous tells Cosmetic Surgery Times. “This surgical approach is easy to learn and master, offers a more comfortable and quicker recovery and has few if any serious complications.”
The study appears in the November/December issue of JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
