OBJECTIVETo explore the application of the remnant in repairing the reconstructed ear in microtia.

METHODSFrom October 2000 to July 2006, 1,823 patients with reconstructed ear underwent the second operation for repairing. The remnants were used to reconstruct tragus, antitragus, crus of helix, concha cavum, or relax the adhesion between the reconstructed auricle and cranio wall, or insert into the reconstructed lobule or under the basement of the costal cartilage frame to restore the cranio-auricular angle or to the preauricular subcutaneous to correct the facial local depression.

RESULTSIn 1,823 cases, the tragus, antitragus and concha cavum was reconstructeded by remnant auricle in 1,180 cases; helix crus was repaired by remnant auricle in 743 cases; the wound was repaired by remnant auricle flap resulted from relaxing the adhesion between the reconstructed auricle and cranial wall in 68 cases; Subcutaneous and cartilage flap was formed and transferred in 95 cases, and among them the flap was transferred under the basement of the frame to restore the cranio-auricular angle in 77 cases and was transferred to the preauricular subcutaneous to correct the facial local depression in 18 cases; the skin flap was formed by remnant auricle to repair the lobule in 37 cases. All flaps survived completely. The appearance of reconstructed ear was satisfied.

CONCLUSIONThe remnant is very useful in repairing the reconstructed ear in microtia. It should be preserved propriately in auricular reconstruction.