Work

Two-flap earlobe rotation for extensive mid-helix defect: a case report of a new modification to an existing technique

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Reconstructing ear defects in very elderly patients is challenging, but one-step procedures are beneficial due to reduced morbidity and fewer hospital visits while maintaining ear size, shape, and symmetry. In 2018, Jaber et al. introduced a 90° earlobe rotation technique to repair full-thickness auricular defects while preserving the earlobe. We present a modified approach, dividing the earlobe into two flaps for better mobility, rotating them to cover a mid-helix defect in a 93-year-old patient. This is especially useful for older patients with large earlobes, who are prone to skin cancers like keratinocyte cancer. The cosmetic result is satisfactory, with minor asymmetries rarely an issue. This technique provides a practical, single-step solution for functional and esthetic reconstruction in elderly patients.

Source: Journal of Surgical Case Reports

DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjae790

Authors: Ana L Ruelas-Villavicencio, Andrea Malagón-Liceaga

Institutions: Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Hospital Médica Sur, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Language: English

Topic: Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,050