Objective:To summarize the characteristics and treatment strategies of tissue expander infections in auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion, providing references for the prevention and treatment of expander infections.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of patients who underwent auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion from January 2018 to January 2024 in the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The causes of expander infections were summarized. Infections were categorized based on time periods (perioperative, inflation period, skin expansion period) and severity (mild, severe). The management and healing outcomes of different types of expander infections were recorded and their incidence rates were calculated. Descriptive statistical method were employed for analysis.Results:A total of 39 patients were included, with 25 males (64.1%) and 14 females (35.9%). The age was (8.2 ±1.9) years (range 5-13 years). Regarding infection causes, folliculitis of the expanded flap was noted in 9 cases (23.1%), inflation procedures in 10 cases (25.6%), insect bites in 2 cases (5.1%), and no obvious cause in 18 cases (46.2%). Perioperative infections occurred in 3 cases (7.7%), inflation period infections in 30 cases (76.9%), and skin expansion period infections in 6 cases (15.4%). Mild infections were present in 21 cases (53.8%) and severe infections in 18 cases (46.2%). After successful treatment of expander infections, 34 patients (87.2%) completed the second stage of reconstruction, while the remaining 5 cases(12.8%) had the expander removed and received ear reconstruction six months later.Conclusion:Infections of expanders during auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion are more common during the inflation period. Early management of potential causes of expander infections can reduce the risk of infection.

Objective:To investigate the application and efficacy of personalized expander placement in the single expanded flap auricular reconstruction for microtia.Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study that included patients with microtia who underwent single expanded flap auricular reconstruction in the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between February 2023 and March 2024, according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. During the first-stage surgery, the tension and thickness of the skin in the postauricular area were evaluated using a pinch test. The anatomical layer of the expander placement was personalized as follows: (1) for thicker skin, the expander was placed in the subcutaneous layer; (2) for thinner skin, the expander was placed in the subcutaneous layer in the scalp region and in the subfascial layer in the hairless region behind the ear; (3) for areas of thin skin behind the residual ear, the expander was placed in the subfascial layer, with the remainder in the subcutaneous layer. In the second-stage surgery, autologous costal cartilage scaffolds were implanted for ear reconstruction, followed by a third-stage revision surgery. Postoperative follow-up was conducted to record complications. Before the third-stage surgery, two plastic surgeons, who did not participate in the operations, evaluated the aesthetic outcomes of the reconstructed ear using the Likert 4-point scale (1-4 points, with higher scores indicating better aesthetic outcomes).Results:A total of 152 children were included, with 97 males and 55 females; ages ranged from 5 to 13 years old, with a mean age of 6.8 years old. Of these, 89 cases were right-sided microtia, 53 left-sided microtia, and 10 bilateral microtia. In terms of skin characteristics, 35 cases had thick skin, 69 thin skin, and 48 thin skin behind the residual ear. During the first-stage surgery, complications included 15 cases of expander hematoma and 3 cases of expander infection. Both were controlled with symptomatic treatment. No cases of expander exposure occurred. The second-stage follow-up ranged from 6 to 12 months, with a mean of 7.9 months. The thickness of the reconstructed ear skin was appropriate, with well-defined subunits and no exposure of the cartilage scaffold. The aesthetic score for the reconstructed ear was (3.3 ± 0.5) points.Conclusion:The personalized placement of expanders effectively ensured appropriate thickness of the expanded flap in single expanded flap auricular reconstruction, providing good coverage for the rib cartilage framework and significantly enhancing the aesthetic outcomes of the reconstructed ears.

Objective:To summarize the characteristics and treatment strategies of tissue expander infections in auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion, providing references for the prevention and treatment of expander infections.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of patients who underwent auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion from January 2018 to January 2024 in the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The causes of expander infections were summarized. Infections were categorized based on time periods (perioperative, inflation period, skin expansion period) and severity (mild, severe). The management and healing outcomes of different types of expander infections were recorded and their incidence rates were calculated. Descriptive statistical method were employed for analysis.Results:A total of 39 patients were included, with 25 males (64.1%) and 14 females (35.9%). The age was (8.2 ±1.9) years (range 5-13 years). Regarding infection causes, folliculitis of the expanded flap was noted in 9 cases (23.1%), inflation procedures in 10 cases (25.6%), insect bites in 2 cases (5.1%), and no obvious cause in 18 cases (46.2%). Perioperative infections occurred in 3 cases (7.7%), inflation period infections in 30 cases (76.9%), and skin expansion period infections in 6 cases (15.4%). Mild infections were present in 21 cases (53.8%) and severe infections in 18 cases (46.2%). After successful treatment of expander infections, 34 patients (87.2%) completed the second stage of reconstruction, while the remaining 5 cases(12.8%) had the expander removed and received ear reconstruction six months later.Conclusion:Infections of expanders during auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion are more common during the inflation period. Early management of potential causes of expander infections can reduce the risk of infection.

Objective:To investigate the application and efficacy of personalized expander placement in the single expanded flap auricular reconstruction for microtia.Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study that included patients with microtia who underwent single expanded flap auricular reconstruction in the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between February 2023 and March 2024, according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. During the first-stage surgery, the tension and thickness of the skin in the postauricular area were evaluated using a pinch test. The anatomical layer of the expander placement was personalized as follows: (1) for thicker skin, the expander was placed in the subcutaneous layer; (2) for thinner skin, the expander was placed in the subcutaneous layer in the scalp region and in the subfascial layer in the hairless region behind the ear; (3) for areas of thin skin behind the residual ear, the expander was placed in the subfascial layer, with the remainder in the subcutaneous layer. In the second-stage surgery, autologous costal cartilage scaffolds were implanted for ear reconstruction, followed by a third-stage revision surgery. Postoperative follow-up was conducted to record complications. Before the third-stage surgery, two plastic surgeons, who did not participate in the operations, evaluated the aesthetic outcomes of the reconstructed ear using the Likert 4-point scale (1-4 points, with higher scores indicating better aesthetic outcomes).Results:A total of 152 children were included, with 97 males and 55 females; ages ranged from 5 to 13 years old, with a mean age of 6.8 years old. Of these, 89 cases were right-sided microtia, 53 left-sided microtia, and 10 bilateral microtia. In terms of skin characteristics, 35 cases had thick skin, 69 thin skin, and 48 thin skin behind the residual ear. During the first-stage surgery, complications included 15 cases of expander hematoma and 3 cases of expander infection. Both were controlled with symptomatic treatment. No cases of expander exposure occurred. The second-stage follow-up ranged from 6 to 12 months, with a mean of 7.9 months. The thickness of the reconstructed ear skin was appropriate, with well-defined subunits and no exposure of the cartilage scaffold. The aesthetic score for the reconstructed ear was (3.3 ± 0.5) points.Conclusion:The personalized placement of expanders effectively ensured appropriate thickness of the expanded flap in single expanded flap auricular reconstruction, providing good coverage for the rib cartilage framework and significantly enhancing the aesthetic outcomes of the reconstructed ears.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of Z-plasty combined with auricular cartilage grafting in the correction of cryptotia.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of cryptotia patients who underwent Z-plasty combined with auricular cartilage grafting at the Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2020 to December 2023. The surgery consisted of five steps: design of the Z-plasty flap, harvesting of auricular cartilage from the conchal cavity, dissection and reshaping of the auricular cartilage, transplantation of auricular cartilage, and skin coverage with flap transfer. Early and late complications were recorded according to postoperative follow-up, and the external ear morphology was evaluated by both plastic surgeons and the patients’ guardians using a Likert 4-point scale (the higher the score, the better the auricular morphology). Normally distributed data were presented as Mean±SD.Results:A total of 32 patients were included in the study, comprising 23 males and 9 females, aged 5 to 14 years, with an average age of 7.3 years. Two children were lost to follow-up, and 30 completed long-term follow-up, with follow-up periods ranging from 6 to 24 months, averaging 9.3 months. Early complications included hematoma in 2 cases [6.3%(2/32)] and flap vascular compromise in 1 case[3.1%(1/32)]. Late complications primarily involved hypertrophic scars in 2 cases[6.7%(2/30)], with no recurrence of deformity. After the operation, the cranioauricular sulcus on the upper pole of the auricle were significantly deepened, and the patients could wear masks and glasses. The average score for the external ear morphology was 3.5±0.5 by plastic surgeons and 3.5±0.5 by patients.Conclusion:Z-plasty combined with auricular cartilage grafting provides satisfactory result in the correction of cryptotia, with few postoperative complications and high patient satisfaction, making it suitable for the treatment of cryptotia.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of Z-plasty combined with auricular cartilage grafting in the correction of cryptotia.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of cryptotia patients who underwent Z-plasty combined with auricular cartilage grafting at the Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2020 to December 2023. The surgery consisted of five steps: design of the Z-plasty flap, harvesting of auricular cartilage from the conchal cavity, dissection and reshaping of the auricular cartilage, transplantation of auricular cartilage, and skin coverage with flap transfer. Early and late complications were recorded according to postoperative follow-up, and the external ear morphology was evaluated by both plastic surgeons and the patients’ guardians using a Likert 4-point scale (the higher the score, the better the auricular morphology). Normally distributed data were presented as Mean±SD.Results:A total of 32 patients were included in the study, comprising 23 males and 9 females, aged 5 to 14 years, with an average age of 7.3 years. Two children were lost to follow-up, and 30 completed long-term follow-up, with follow-up periods ranging from 6 to 24 months, averaging 9.3 months. Early complications included hematoma in 2 cases [6.3%(2/32)] and flap vascular compromise in 1 case[3.1%(1/32)]. Late complications primarily involved hypertrophic scars in 2 cases[6.7%(2/30)], with no recurrence of deformity. After the operation, the cranioauricular sulcus on the upper pole of the auricle were significantly deepened, and the patients could wear masks and glasses. The average score for the external ear morphology was 3.5±0.5 by plastic surgeons and 3.5±0.5 by patients.Conclusion:Z-plasty combined with auricular cartilage grafting provides satisfactory result in the correction of cryptotia, with few postoperative complications and high patient satisfaction, making it suitable for the treatment of cryptotia.