What is Ear Reconstruction?

English हिन्दी Bengali

What is the meaning of Ear Reconstruction?

A form of surgery performed to rebuild an ear that has been damaged by trauma, cancer surgery, or is missing or misshapen due to a congenital disorder (disorder present at birth) is known as ear reconstruction. Ear reconstruction, also known as auricular reconstruction, is usually performed during the childhood years of the patient.  In most cases, ear reconstruction is followed by hearing rehabilitation with an otologist.

In this article, we will be discussing in detail ear reconstruction.

• What is the purpose of Ear Reconstruction?
• Who is a good candidate for Ear Reconstruction?
• What are the different types of Ear Reconstruction Surgeries?
• What is the diagnostic procedure before Ear Reconstruction?
• How to prepare for Ear Reconstruction?
• What is the procedure for Ear Reconstruction?
• How to care after Ear Reconstruction?
• What are the risks of Ear Reconstruction?
• What is the cost of Ear Reconstruction in India?

What is the purpose of Ear Reconstruction?

Ear reconstruction is performed in the following cases:

• Congenital defects like microtia (small ear) or atresia (absence of the external ear)
• Trauma or injury to the ear, for example, a car accident or a torn earlobe
• Certain genetic conditions like Treacher Collins syndrome and Goldenhar syndrome
• Misshapen ears, that is, large ears, pointed ears, or lop ears (when the tip of the ear folds down)

Who is a good candidate for Ear Reconstruction?

The following are considered to be good candidates for ear reconstruction:

• Age of five years or more
• Having good general health
• Non-smokers

What are the different types of Ear Reconstruction Surgeries?

The different types of ear reconstruction surgeries are:

Microtia repair:

• Microtia or tiny ear refers to an inborn condition where one or both of the outer ears are malformed, absent, or small.

• This may occur due to a genetic defect or may be a congenital condition.

• Surgical procedures to repair microtia may include the creation of a new ear out of the patient’s own body tissue, like rib cartilage, or building a prosthetic (artificial) ear.

Otoplasty:

• It is a cosmetic surgery performed on the outer, visible ear parts.
• Example includes ear pinning, which is a surgical procedure performed to angle the ears closer to the head and make them less prominent.

Ear defect repair:

• Conditions like cancer surgery or trauma cause tissue loss and may need plastic surgery to restore the function and form of the outer ear. ( Know more about- What is Eardrum Repair Surgery? )

What is the diagnostic procedure before Ear Reconstruction?

• Physical examination: The doctor will evaluate the size, shape, and placement of the patient’s ears. The doctor may also take measurements and photographs.
• Medical history: The doctor will inquire about the patient’s medical history, history of any injury or trauma, history of any ear infections, history of any surgeries, or any medications that the patient may be currently taking.
• Blood tests and urinalysis: These are routine tests performed before surgery to check for underlying infections.
• Imaging tests: X-rays and CT scans may be useful to obtain clear images of the internal structures of the ear.
• General screening tests: The doctor may do a whisper test and ask the patient to cover one ear at a time to see how well the patient can hear the words spoken at different volumes and how well the patient responds to other sounds.
• Tuning fork tests: These tests help the doctor to detect loss of hearing.
• Audiometer tests: This is a more thorough test performed to check hearing loss.

How to prepare for Ear Reconstruction?

• The doctor should be told about any medications, herbs, or supplements that the patient is currently taking.
• If the patient has any medical illnesses, inform the doctor about the same.
• If the patient has a known allergy to anesthesia, any medications, latex, iodine, or tape, tell the doctor about the same.
• The patient should quit smoking at least fifteen days before the procedure.
• The patient may be advised to stop taking blood thinners like warfarin and aspirin a few days before the procedure. ( Know more about- What is Headache Tablets ? )
• If the procedure is being performed under general anesthesia, the patient will be asked to not eat or drink anything after midnight, the day before the procedure. 

What is the procedure for Ear Reconstruction?

• The procedure is generally performed under local anesthesia with sedation (the area of the procedure is numbed) or general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep during the procedure).
• The surgeon first makes an incision on the back of the ear or inside the folds of the ear.
• The tissue of the ear is now manipulated depending on the type of procedure being performed. This may include cartilage or skin removal, folding and shaping of cartilage using permanent sutures (stitches), or grafting of cartilage to the ear.
• The incisions are now closed using sutures.
• Certain types of surgeries do not require an incision. The surgeon places a needle into the cartilage to increase its flexibility and stitches are then used to fix or reshape the ear.
• The procedure generally takes one to three hours to complete, depending on the severity of the condition and the type of procedure being performed. ( Know more about- What are Cochlear Implants? )

How to care after Ear Reconstruction?

• The patient’s ears will be covered in bandages for support and protection after the procedure.
• It is normal to have some redness, itching, swelling, and discomfort after the procedure.
• The doctor will prescribe painkillers to relieve the pain and discomfort of the patient.
• The patient should avoid sleeping sideways till complete healing occurs to avoid pressure on the operated ear.
• The patient should avoid rubbing or placing excessive force on the incisions.
• The patient should wear button-down shirts or shirts having loose-fitting collars to avoid clothes rubbing against the ears.
• The bandages are removed by the doctor a few days after the procedure. The ears are likely to be red and swollen.
• The patient may need to wear a loose headband covering the ears at night for some weeks. This prevents the patient from pulling his/her ears forward when rolling over in bed.
• Dissolvable stitches disappear on their own. However, non-dissolvable stitches need to be removed by the doctor a few weeks after the procedure.
• The patient should follow the doctor’s instructions on when to resume daily activities like bathing and other physical activities.
• Light exercises like walking can be resumed three days after the surgery.
• Heavy lifting and strenuous physical activities can be resumed three weeks after the surgery.
• Swimming should be avoided for four to six weeks after the surgery.
• Sun exposure, sun lamps, and tanning beds should be avoided for six weeks after the procedure.

What are the risks of Ear Reconstruction?

The complications associated with ear reconstruction are:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Adverse reaction to the anesthesia used
• Allergy to the tape, suture material, blood products, or injected agents used
• Blood clot formation
• Persistent pain
• Poor wound healing 
• Scarring
• Changes in the sensation of the skin
• Skin discoloration ( Know more about- What are the causes of skin inflammation ? )
• Skin swelling 
• Asymmetrical ear placement
• Unnatural ear contour due to overcorrection
• Extrusion of the sutures
• Need for another surgery

What is the cost of Ear Reconstruction in India?

The total cost of ear reconstruction in India can range from around INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000. However, many prominent hospitals and doctors in India specialize in ear reconstruction. But the cost varies across different hospitals. 

If you are coming from abroad, apart from the cost of ear reconstruction, there will be an additional cost of living in a hotel and the cost of local travel. After surgery, the patient is kept for one day in the hospital and seven days in the hotel for recovery. So, the total cost of ear reconstruction in India comes to be around INR 65,000 to INR 2,60,000. 

We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding ear reconstruction through this article.

If you want any other information and treatment related to ear reconstruction, you can contact an ENT specialist.

We only aim to provide you with information through the article. We do not recommend any medicine or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can give you good advice and the correct treatment plan.