Microtia - Surgical Specialists Providing Staged Ear Reconstruction Surgery

Microtia is included in a range of facial deformities and patients having this condition may also have other craniofacial deformities that involve the nerves of the face, soft tissues, jaws, ear, and skull. Microtia-anotia is a common birth defect and comes from the Latin term that means “little ear”. This birth defect occurs when the outer ear and the middle ear does not fully develop. This condition is characterized on the level of severity that is present and has four grades that include:

• Grade I-This grade has little deformity where the patient has a little smaller ear than normal and has an ear canal.
• Grad II-This grade includes a miniature ear and the patient having their ear canal closed of which results in some hearing loss
• Grade III-The patient has a small trace of an external ear and has not ear canal nor ear drum
• Grade IV-This grade is where the patient has a complete absence on an ear.

If you need information on a microtia-anotia surgical procedure, call the offices of an experienced plastic surgeon that has success treating patients with this condition. Through a consultation and an examination of the person affected with this condition, you can learn of treatment options, costs, recovery, causes, and what to expect during surgery and beyond.

The severity of the condition of the ear in microtia-anotia patients will determine if hearing is affected. The most common form of this condition is grade III, which involves the lack of elements of the ear drum and ear canal, and involves a person’s hearing being affected by the condition. These patients typically have no hearing on the side that is affected, however, will have normal hearing on the side that is not affected. Since there are four grades of the microtia-anotia condition, evaluation from a knowledgeable physician is the best way to receive a customized plan of medical attention to get the help that is needed.

Some people try to understand the causes of microtia, and while they are unknown, medical research has indicated that there may be some genetic link. Chances of having a child with this condition are higher when one of the parents has a family member in their immediate family with the condition. Most children that have microtia-anotia are unaware that a problem even exists until they reach school age and start making comparisons to other classmates. Depending on the severity of the child’s condition, a surgeon may recommend that the child have the procedure done prior to entering the first grade to avoid the taunts and teasing of other kids.

A microtia surgical procedure should only be done by a qualified plastic surgery and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon for the best possible outcome. A physician that encompasses a mastery of the inside of the ear as well as extensive training and knowledge of reconstructing the outer ear will help provide a patient with a more normal looking ear. Make sure your surgeon has extensive training and education in addition to being certified with the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Call and schedule a consultation with an experience plastic ear surgeon that will provide the medical care you need for your child.