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The self-correction and influence factors of congenital auricular deformity: A prospective cohort study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To prospectively observe the self-correction of congenital auricular deformity (CAD) and explore the potential factors affecting the self-correction. METHODS: This study was a multi-center prospective observational study. Newborns aged 0-3 days from 12 Maternal and Child Health Hospitals or Maternity Hospitals were chosen as the participants and prospectively followed up until week 6 after birth. The primary and secondary outcome was the score of deformity, and the secondary outcome was the improvement rate, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 135 newborns diagnosed with CAD (237 ears) were recruited. Boys and girls accounted for 50.37% (117 ears) and 49.63% (120 ears). The top morphological type was the constricted ear (107 ears, 45.15%). The score of deformity at baseline, week 3, and week 6 after enrollment was 4.00, 3.00, and 2.00, decreasing over time (P < 0.05). The higher the severity of deformity, the worse the self-correcting effect (P < 0.05). The scores of deformity of Stahl's ear were lower than those of others after follow-up (P < 0.05). No significant differences among the scores of deformity in different genders (P >0.05). The total improvement rate at week 3 and week 6 was 29.96% (71/237 ears) and 37.13% (88/237), respectively. The improvement rate of the Stahl's ear at week 3 and week 6 after enrollment was higher than that of four other morphological types (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Some CAD tends to self-correction, but for most CADs, there is still a need for early correction. Morphological types and severity of deformity are the main influencing factors on self-correcting effect, whereas sex was not.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309621

Authors: Jincheng Huang, Kun Zou, Min Yang, Yanjun Fan, Jinjie Xia, Li Zhao