Two-Step Reconstruction of Non-Marginal Auricular Defects

PurposeAuricular reconstruction is an extensively discussed topic in facial reconstructive surgery and poses an immense challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. This report describes a 2-stage technique to repair non-marginal full-thickness defects of the auricle.Materials and MethodsThirteen patients underwent surgery after partial to complete loss of the auricular concha using an improved and refined method. Tissue from the pre- and retroauricular regions was used to replace nonhelical auricular tissue loss in 2 surgical steps. All procedures were performed in an ambulatory setting using local anesthesia.ResultsAll 13 patients (age range, 37 to 82 yr; mean age, 68 yr; 4 women and 9 men) had excellent esthetic outcomes with low surgical morbidity and were satisfied with the achieved results. No flap necrosis was observed. Auricular vertical and horizontal dimensions changed minimally (0 to 4 mm). A tension-free closure of the donor-site defects could be achieved primarily.ConclusionThe present method uses 2 separate donor sites to reconstruct centrally located full-thickness defects of the auricle. It is straightforward to perform, minimizes the surgical steps required, shows excellent outcomes, and allows easier closure of the donor site because of the distribution of the harvested tissue.