Summary
Background
Auricle reconstruction is a surgical procedure described in the medical literature
as early as 600 BC. The aim of the present paper is to review these attempts and their
results.
Methods
Literature search and medical history books were used as scientific sources.
Results
More than 40 different cartilagenous, osseous or other alloplastic frame materials
(autogenous tibial bone, iliac bone, mastoid bone, maternal auricular cartilage, autogenous
nasoseptal cartilage, allogenous meniscus, autogenous meniscus and many more) have
been used since 1891. From approximately 40 reconstruction procedures that had been
proposed, only eight were still in use in the 1980s. The reason for abandoning the
majority of these surgical techniques was the unacceptable aesthetic result. However,
at the end of the 20th Century two new techniques were introduced. These techniques
were designed by Satoru Nagata and Burt Brent. Both techniques provide cosmetic and
functional results that are acceptable both to the patient and to the surgeon.
Conclusions
Although the outcome of surgical auricle reconstruction was in general disappointing
through the centuries, at the end of the 20th Century new surgical methods were established
and at the present time auricle reconstruction can be attempted with acceptable results.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 27, 2007
Accepted:
November 15,
2006
Received:
April 10,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
