Incisionless otoplasty: A retrospective review and outcomes analysis

OBJECTIVE: To report outcomes following incisionless otoplasty, a minimally invasive surgical technique that can be used to treat protruding ears. METHODS: Two independent review authors retrospectively reviewed the electronic charts of consecutive patients (n=19) who underwent incisionless otoplasty by a single surgeon between October 2007 and June 2011 at McMaster Children's Hospital. Main outcome measures were pre- and post-operative protrusion measurements, and complication rates. Research Ethics Board approval was granted through Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. Descriptive statistics were reported. RESULTS: Nineteen children (mean age 8.8 ± 3.7 years) underwent incisionless otoplasty with an average follow-up of 43.9 ± 9.3 weeks (95% CI, 24.4-64.4 weeks). Pre- and post-operative measurements, respectively, for both ears combined were 24.2 mm and 15.0 mm at the level of the most superior helical point, 26.3 mm and 15.7 mm at the superior conchal attachment, 25.5 mm and 16.6 mm at the inferior conchal attachment, and 15.0 mm and 14.1 mm at the lobule. Two patients exhibited asymmetry necessitating revision surgery. Three patients extruded sutures, two of which experienced localized suture abscesses. No patients developed post-operative haematomas or perichondritis. CONCLUSIONS: Among our cohort of patients, otoplasty using an incisionless technique seems to be successful in improving ear protrusion among children and is associated with few complications.