Computed tomography measurement of the auricle in Han population of north China

SummaryA large number of anthropometric studies of the human auricle have been conducted in various populations. However, data from Han Chinese population are currently not available. The morphology of the auricle is highly complex. Consequently, traditional direct measurement techniques are unable to provide sufficient detail and accuracy. The present study sought to provide anthropometrical data on the auricles of Han Chinese individuals using a three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) reconstruction technique. A total of 485 data sets were utilised for this study. This sample consisted of data from 241 females aged 18–75 years and 244 males aged 18–74 years. All participants were categorised by gender and further into three age groups. Twelve anthropometrical dimensions of normal auricles were measured with 3D CT. Auricular, tragal, lobular and conchal indices were calculated to further examine the auricles. Earlobes were classified into three basic groups according to the angle of the junction of the earlobe with the cheek. Few of the anthropometrical data showed significant bilateral differences in auricular dimensions. The height of the tragus, lobular length, lobular width, conchal width, protrusion at tragal level and inclination angle of auricles showed no significant differences between males and females. All the linear dimensions of auricles, except the height of the tragus, conchal length and width, increased with age for both males and females. Protrusion at the superaurale and tragal levels showed a decrease of between 4% and 9% for males and 4% and 10% for females across all age groups. This study is the first to report CT measurement of normal auricles in a northern Han Chinese population. We found that this method enabled the complexity of the ear to be measured easily and accurately. Increasing our knowledge of normal auricular dimensions will be beneficial for plastic surgeons.