Remodelling of the pinna in myxoid degeneration of the ear

SummaryIdiopathic deformation of the pinna is not widely reported in the current literature. We present a series of cases in which patients have required surgery for spontaneous thickening and deformation of the auricular cartilage, and a description of a technique for surgical correction.Four cases of idiopathic deformation of the pinna are reported. Our preferred technique of scaphoid rim incision and anterior carving of the cartilage is described, with intra-operative photographs.Each patient reported spontaneous swelling of the upper poles of the ears beginning in the second or third decade of life. In 3 cases the deformity was bilateral, although in each of these cases one side was more severely affected than the other. Histology for these cases was reported as myxoid degeneration of the ear. All of the reported patients were pleased with the aesthetic outcome of their auricular remodelling.Currently, there are no typical patient demographics for idiopathic myxoid degeneration of the ear. We have achieved good aesthetic results by hand carving the anterior aspect of the deformed cartilage via scaphoid rim incisions.