Microtia

The causes of microtia is, for the most part, unknown. Some infants have microtia because of a change in genes or an abnormality in a single gene. Another known cause for microtia is a medicine called isotretinoin (Accutane®), which if taken during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, including microtia.

Because microtia is a congenital condition, your child's malformed ear will be obvious at birth, and therefore diagnosed by the doctor immediately upon physical examination.

Doctors also recommend an auditory brainstem response evaluation (ABR) soon after every child’s birth to evaluate babies’ inner ear function on both sides. An ABR is a type of test that evaluates how well sounds travel along the hearing nerve pathways from the ear to the brainstem.

The care and treatment of a child with microtia depends on the severity of the case. Some children will need a series of operations, while others might not need any treatment at all.

Though the prospect of your child needing a surgical procedure is worrisome, it’s important to remember that these procedures have excellent success rates.

The most common type of operation for microtia we perform is autologous auricular construction. During this operation, specially trained pediatric plastic surgeons will take cartilage from your child’s ribcage and use it to “plant” a new ear on the affected side of the head. The process uses your child’s own tissue, so if the new ear is ever injured it can heal itself just as a natural ear would. Autologous construction is performed when a child is 6 years of age or older. He/she needs to be old enough to have sufficient rib cartilage to “spare,” and 6 years is about the age when the ear on the other side (if applicable) will reach its approximate adult size — so the surgeons can be sure to line up the new ear to match it.

Autologous construction usually requires three procedures in total, depending on the type and severity of your child’s microtia. Procedures are typically scheduled six months apart to allow your child time to heal.

• First procedure: Surgeons remove some cartilage from the ribcage to build a new ear.
• Second procedure: Surgeons refine and reposition the new earlobe.
• Third procedure: Surgeons lift the new ear for better alignment and perform “touch-ups” as needed.

It is possible that your child also may need an operation on the middle or inner ear. In that case, surgeons will perform the procedure after the last operation is done.

Your child’s reconstructed ear will not look exactly like his other ear, but it will greatly improve his/her appearance (and will allow practical things like wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses).

What is the timeline for surgical treatment?

• infancy: possible headband hearing aid
• 6 years of age or older: first stage autologous reconstruction
• 6 months later: second stage autologous reconstruction
• 6 months later: third stage autologous reconstruction
• 6 months later: possible bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA), possible atresia repair

Alternatives to surgical treatment

In general, we recommend autologous construction as the most effective treatment for microtia. It offers children a comfortable new ear that feels natural, facilitates the use of eyewear, boosts self-esteem and improves their quality of life. At the same time, we understand that every child and family is different. Your doctors will work with you to decide on the right option. 

Alternatives to autologous construction include:

• No treatment: You may opt not to have any treatment at all. Talk to your child’s care team for guidance and advice.
• Ear implant: An artificial ear made from synthetic materials can be used instead of cartilage. Advantages include no chest scar and ear construction as early as age 3. Disadvantages include a higher complication rate and potential long-term problems compared to autologous construction.
• Ear prosthesis: This type of artificial ear, made from a synthetic material, can be attached to the side of your child’s head with a minimally invasive procedure. Disadvantages include the need for daily care.

If your child has a hearing problem related to microtia, she/he will be followed by an audiologist (hearing specialist) and an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat expert). Together, the team will:

• monitor the hearing loss with regularly scheduled hearing tests (audiograms)
• recommend hearing aids and other ways to maximize the use of the remaining hearing
• suggest a hearing aid (either worn as a headband or implanted into the bone) in the event of serious hearing loss
• offer surgery to recreate a missing ear canal (called atresia repair) and improve hearing. Alternatively, a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) may be offered.
• recommend additional language or developmental assessments for your child, as needed
• direct you to community resources for educational or financial assistance

Our dedicated Microtia Program is within the Departments of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement and Plastic and Oral Surgery, which typically performs an autologous (using your child’s own tissue) reconstruction. In this procedure, a new ear is made from your child’s rib cartilage and placed under the skin on the side of the scalp where the ear would be. In addition, the surgeon refines and repositions the ear lobe and reconstructs the contour of the ear.