Microtia means “small ear” and is a relatively rare deformity that occurs in about one in every 10,000 births. Microtia can occur with other congenital syndromes, but most often it is an isolated abnormality where cartilage and tissues did not fully develop.
There are several methods available for ear reconstruction in children with microtia, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. At Texas Children’s, we most commonly reconstruct ears using the patient’s own tissue.
Patients will usually stay in the hospital for one to two days following surgery and will go home with a large, bulky dressing that will stay on until the follow up visit – typically one week later.
Children with aural atresia, or ear canal deformities, can have conductive hearing loss which makes it difficult to understand speech or identify where noises are coming from. Hearing loss in one of the ears may lead to speech and language delays, attention and concentration difficulties, and academic issues. Our ultimate goal is to have the child hear well out of both ears.
