Summary
When performing auriculoplasty for microtia surgery, wires are typically used to fix
the costal cartilage frames. However, cases in which such wires become exposed during
a long-term follow-up were frequently observed at our facility. Hence, using various
materials, we conducted an investigation of the materials most suitable for fixation.
Method
The subjects consisted of 122 cases in which auriculoplasty by costal cartilage graft
surgery was performed and the postoperative course was traceable, within approximately
24 years from January 1984 to March 2007. Regarding the fixation materials used in
the 84 cases in which wire was used, 5 cases used monofilament non-absorbable sutures
(Nylon®), 5 cases used monofilament absorbable sutures (PDS®), and 28 cases used braided absorbable sutures(VICRYL®).Their postoperative course was investigated, and the presence of auricular deformities
caused by a loosening of the fixation materials and the exposure of the fixation materials
was examined.
Results
An exposure of the wire was observed in 19 cases (22.6%) of the 84 cases that used
wires. An exposure of nylon was observed in 2 (40%) of 5 the cases that used nylon,
and of those, a mild deformation was observed in the lower helix in one case that
was suspected to have been caused by a loosening of the surgical suture. Regarding
the 33 cases in which absorbable sutures were used (5 cases used monofilament absorbable
sutures and 28 cases used braided absorbable sutures), neither any auricular deformities
nor exposure of the fixation materials was observed in any of the cases.
Conclusion
Whether using monofilament or braided sutures, absorbable sutures are therefore believed
to be the most suitable material for the fixation of cartilage.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Total reconstruction of the external ear.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1959; 27: 1-15
- A new method of total reconstruction of the auricle for microtia.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1993; 92: 187-201
- Therapeutic experience with reconstructed auricular burn by a wire.JJpnPRS. 2000; vol. 20: 191-195
- Refinements in the elevation of reconstructed auricles in microtia.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006; 117: 2414-2423
- Technical advances in ear reconstruction with autogenous rib cartlage grafts:personal experience with 1200 cases.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999; 104: 319-334
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 02, 2011
Accepted:
October 13,
2011
Received:
June 27,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
