OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term therapeutic effects of repairing the whole auricular defects with osseointegrated prosthetic ears.

METHODSFrom January 2002 to December 2005, 62 patients (63 ears) with the whole auricular defects were treated with osseointegrated prosthetic ears and followed up for 5 - 8 years (median 6.5 years) after operations. In all cases, the following items were analyzed: stability and dislocation rate of the implants fixing prosthetic ears, infection of tissues surrounding implants, time and appearance satisfaction of wearing prosthetic ears, rate and time length of replacement of prosthetic ears, and presence of systemic complications or not.

RESULTSAll 63 ears were healed with one surgery, with the appearances of life like shapes, stable fixation, and natural color. Infection of implants and their surrounding tissues occurred in all cases, but didn't influence the stability of the implants. All 126 implant particles in 63 ears survived after one surgery, except that 4 implant particles were dislocated by trauma. In all cases, the time of wearing prosthetic ears was more than 8 hours per day. Because of color fading and breakage, average time length of replacement of prosthetic ears was 3.0 years. There were no intracranial or systemic complications.

CONCLUSIONSOsseointegrated prosthetic ears can be used in the treatment of the patients with the whole auricular defects, because of its safety and reliability, the stability of long-term therapeutic effects, and the good satisfaction of the patients.