Objective:This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of tympanoplasty using auricular cartilage combined with balloon eustachian tuboplasty for the treatment of adhesive otitis media（adhesive otitis media, AdOM） under endoscopic. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patients with unilateral adhesive otitis media who visited Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between January 2017 and February 2022. All patients were divided into three groups: ①conservative treatment group;②simple tympanoplasty group; ③tympanoplasty combined with balloon dilation group（BET group）. All patients were regularly assessed for the improvement of tympanic membrane morphology, hearing, and Eustachian tube function, as well as complications, after treatment. Results:There was no significant improvement in eardrum morphology, hearing, or eustachian tube function in the conservative treatment group（P>0.05）; both the simple tympanoplasty group and the BET group showed significant improvements in eardrum morphology and hearing after surgery（P<0.01）; In terms of Eustachian tube function improvement, the BET group showed significantly greater improvements in Eustachian tube manometry（TMM） and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire（ETDQ-7） scores compared to the tympanoplasty alone group（P<0.01）. Conclusion:Tympanoplasty using auricular cartilage combined with balloon eustachian tuboplasty shows good clinical outcomes in the treatment of adhesive otitis media, significantly ameliorating patients' subjective symptoms such as tinnitus and ear congestion after surgery, thereby improving the patient's quality of life.
Humans ; Eustachian Tube/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Otitis Media/surgery* ; Ear Cartilage/surgery* ; Endoscopy ; Dilatation ; Treatment Outcome ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged

Objective: To present a rare case of nasal tip schwannoma and describe its resection and reconstruction using combined cartilage grafts. Methods: Design: Case Report Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital Patient: One Results: A 13-year-old boy presented with a progressively enlarging nasal tip and severe left nasal obstruction causing breathing difficulties and psychosocial distress. There was a bulging septal mass obstructing 90% of the left nasal cavity. Septal incision biopsy revealed schwannoma and definitive surgery via open rhinoplasty approach was done. The non-encapsulated schwannoma extended from the subcutaneous nasal tip to the left septal mucosa. There was no evidence of skin or cartilage invasion, but prolonged pressure from the expansile schwannoma caused severe lower lateral cartilage and anterior septal atrophy leading to a collapsed and expanded nasal tip after resection. To correct this, a total reconstruction of the anterior tip complex was done using combined ear cartilage seagull wing graft, shield graft and septal extension graft. Conclusion Nasal tip and septal schwannoma is rare and can cause significant nasal obstruction and deformity. Complete excision is vital to avoid recurrence. Total reconstruction of the lower lateral cartilages using autologous septal and ear cartilage grafts may be a safe and effective technique that yields acceptable aesthetic results.
nasal septum ; schwannoma ; ear cartilage ; rhinoplasty ; nasal cartilages ; esthetics ; neurilemmoma ; adolescent

OBJECTIVES: Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in China. Septal extension grafts (SEG) have been widely used in rhinoplasty, but there are few reports on SEG derived from ear cartilage. This study aims to explore the effectiveness and stability of auricular cartilage nasal SEG transplantation in Chinese rhinoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 35 rhinoplasty patients admitted from September 2019 to March 2022 has been conducted. Among them, 29 patients underwent rhinoplasty for the first time and 6 patients underwent rhinoplasty with the age of 18-32 (average 22.4) years old. The postoperative follow-up was 3-28 (average 18.5) months. The improvement of the nose shape was observed. The changes of the nose tip angle, nasolabial angle, and nasofrontal angle were compared between before and after the operation, and the complications were recorded. RESULTS: All patients who underwent rhinoplasty with a septal extension grafts constructed from the concha cavity and concha cartilage showed significant improvement in nasal contour. The preoperative nasal tip angle, nasolabial angle, and nasofrontal angle were significantly improved compared with 3 months after operation (all P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between 3 months and 14 months after operation (all P>0.05). The appearance of nasal cavity was satisfactory in 32 patients after operation. Columella deviation occurred in 2 patients and 1 patient complained of downward rotation of the nasal tip, which was satisfied after readjustment of the graft. CONCLUSIONS The simplified SEG derived from auricular cartilage can provide stable support for the nasal tip, the nasal shape is natural after operation, and minimal trauma of unilateral auricle cartilage transplantation remains.
Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Rhinoplasty ; Ear Cartilage/transplantation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Nasal Septum/transplantation* ; Plastic Surgery Procedures

Objective: To explore the feasibility of reconstruction of nasal tip with septal cartilage and auricular cartilage. Methods: From September 2018 to October 2019, 17 patients (two males and fifteen females) with low noses underwent rhinoplasty under general anesthesia. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 39, with an average of 27 years old. Among them, all the 17 cases were primary rhinoplasty. During the operation, autologous nasal septum cartilage was used as septal extension graft to extend the caudal septum, and the auricular cartilage was used to enhance the stability of the strut and to elevate the tip for adjusting the shape of nose by making into spreader graft, columellar strut graft, derotation graft and onlay graft. The nasal dorsum was filled with polytetrafluoroethylene. Digital scanning technology was used to evaluate the nasal structure before and after operation. SPSS 22 software was used to analyze the data with paired t-test. Results: The follow-up was from 6 to 12 months, with an avaerge of 7.6 months. Seventeen patients were satisfied with postoperative nasal morphology and height. There was no infection, prosthesis displacement, skin flap necrosis, no auricle deformation and other complications. Statistical software SPSS 22 performed paired t-test on the preoperative and postoperative data obtained by digital technology: postoperative nasal length and nasal tip protrusion increased compared with that before surgery, and it was statistically significant(length:(3.60±0.77)mm, tip protrusion:(3.61±0.64)mm, t value was -19.203 and -23.132 respectively, both P<0.001). The nasolabial Angle was smaller than that before surgery, and the data were statistically significant(3.40°±2.11°,t=6.635, P<0.001). Conclusion: The nasal tip and nasal septum extension complex constructed by autogenous nasal septal cartilage combined with auricular cartilage can increase the length of nasal tip, increase the height of nasal tip and reduce the angle of nasolabial angle.
Adult ; Ear Cartilage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cartilages/surgery* ; Nasal Septum/surgery* ; Nose/surgery* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rhinoplasty ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the curative effect of rib cartilage framework supporting combined with local flap grafting for correction of cryptotia. Methods: Fourteen cases (nineteen ears) were corrected by rib cartilage framework supporting combined with local flap grafting method from January 2017 to March 2019. Part of the 7th rib cartilage was carved into a scalloped cartilage piece, which was implanted on the retroauricular cartilage to release and expand the deformed cartilage. A "M" incision was designed on the retroauricular skin to make the local flap grafting. Results: All corrected auricles were followed up for four months to three year and abtained satisfactory and stable appearance. In one case, the edge of the helix was broken two weeks after the operation, and well healed after repairing. Conclusions: The rib cartilage framework supporting combined with local flap grafting method can fully correct the deformity of cryptotia, and the long-term effect is satisfied. It can be an important complement to the classic methods.
Cartilage ; Ear, External/surgery* ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Ribs ; Surgical Flaps

Trauma to the auricle is common given its prominent position, and various methods for ear reconstruction exist. Herein, we present our experience of ear reconstruction using diced autogenous cartilage. A 72-year-old woman fell from a 1-m height, damaging her ear in the process. The ear helix, which was approximately 3.5×3 cm² in size, was amputated. The cartilage was diced into 1-mm pieces. The detached skin was made into a pocket and filled with the diced cartilage. Molding was performed with tie-over dressings on the anterior and posterior areas of the scaphoid fossa. Ten days post-surgery, the wound showed signs of successful recovery, and the contour of the ear helix was maintained. Ten months later, the cartilage in the damaged ear helix was intact. Conventional composite grafts on amputated ears have size limitations and exhibit significant resorption, and loss of anatomical structures and stability often occur. In this case, the operating time required to complete the composite graft was short, and molding the contour was not complex. The original ear structure was maintained over the long term and did not require an additional operation for aesthetic purposes. We believe that this is a useful method for the reconstruction of an amputated ear.
Aged ; Bandages ; Cartilage ; Ear ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Methods ; Skin ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Cryptotia is a congenital anomaly in which the upper part of the retroauricular sulcus is absent and buried underneath the temporal skin. Various surgical techniques have been reported for the correction of cryptotia following Kubo’s V-Y plasty in 1933. Conventional methods using a local skin flap, skin grafting, tissue expansion, Z-plasty, and any of these combined approaches can result in skin deficiency of the upper auricle. The aim of this study was to develop a new method that improves cosmetic results and has fewer complications. METHODS: This study involved four patients in whom five cryptotia deformities were corrected using V-Y plasty and Z-plasty. After elevation of the flap, acellular dermal matrix (ADM; MegaDerm) that was over 5 mm in thickness was applied to the cephalo-auricular angle and positioned to enhance the projection of the ear. Lastly, the flap was transposed to complete the repair. RESULTS: Between January 2014 and February 2018, cryptotia correction with ADM graft was performed in four patients. None of the patients developed a recurrence of cryptotia, and there were no postoperative complications such as wound infection, seroma formation, and dehiscence. In addition, the procedures resulted in a favorable cosmetic appearance. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, i.e., no recurrence and a favorable cosmetic result, when using an ADM graft, it is suggested that this technique could be an alternative method of cryptotia correction. It could also lessen donor-site morbidity when compared to autologous cartilage grafting and be more cost-effective than using cartilage from a cadaver.
Acellular Dermis ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Ear ; Ear Cartilage ; Humans ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Seroma ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Tissue Expansion ; Transplants ; Wound Infection

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and the destruction of cartilaginous tissues, primarily involving the ear, nose, and the respiratory tract. Nasal chondritis is present in 24% of patients at the time of diagnosis and develops subsequently in 53% throughout the diseases progress. Progressive destruction of nasal cartilage leads to the characteristic flattening of the nasal bridge, resulting in the saddle nose deformity. In patients with RP, surgical management for saddle nose is carefully decided due to the disease relapsing characteristics. We present a RP patient with a saddle nose deformity who underwent reconstruction rhinoplasty with autologous costal cartilage grafting. At 6-month follow-up, the patient retained good esthetic results and showed neither complication nor relapse of RP.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Costal Cartilage ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nasal Cartilages ; Nose ; Polychondritis, Relapsing ; Recurrence ; Respiratory System ; Rhinoplasty ; Transplants

A combined cartilage holder and crusher is described that allows the surgeon to hold, crush, morselize, and suture a single piece or stack of cartilage graft without letting it slip. The customized slit-shaped jaws allow adequate room for the suture needle, while the serrated surfaces hold the cartilage firmly. The use of this instrument is advocated primarily in rhinoplasty for manipulating and suturing a small cartilage graft or a stack of grafts. The use of this instrument may be extended to aesthetic or reconstructive cases where cartilage grafts need to be sutured or shaped, as in eyelid, ear, and nipple reconstruction.
Cartilage ; Ear ; Eyelids ; Jaw ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Needles ; Nipples ; Rhinoplasty ; Sutures ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: The traditional canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM) procedure commonly has potential problems of altering the anatomy and physiology of the middle ear and mastoid. This study evaluated outcomes in patients who underwent modified canal wall down mastoidectomy (mCWDM) and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials. METHODS: Our study included 76 patients with chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, and adhesive otitis who underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials between 2010 and 2015. Postoperative hearing air-bone gap and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: During the average follow-up of 64 months (range, 20 to 89 months), there was no recurrent or residual cholesteatoma or chronic otitis media. No patient had a cavity problem and anatomic integrity of the posterior canal wall was obtained. There was a significant improvement in hearing with respect to the postoperative air-bone gap (P<0.05). A retroauricular skin depression was a common complication of this technique. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that our technique can prevent various complications of the classical CWDM technique using autologous tissues for mastoid cavity obliteration. It is also an appropriate method to obtain adequate volume for safe obliteration.
Adhesives ; Cartilage ; Cholesteatoma ; Depression ; Ear, Middle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Methods ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Physiology ; Skin