• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.118-121
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• 2009

Purpose: Constricted ear, which is named by Tanzer includes lop ear, cup ear, and sort of prominent ear. It has classified three groups by Tanzer, especially grou I and IIA have been corrected by banner flap, Musgrave's technique, tumbling concha - cartilage flap, reversed banner flap and others. However, these techniques were too invasive for correcting mild degree of deformity. Therefore, we corrected the ear with mattress suture which is simple and less invasive. Method: The operations were done against 5 patients from 2005 March to 2008 April. All the cases were unilateral ears with constriction included helix and scaphoid fossa without difference in length between both ears. Though a posterior auricular skin incision, the folded cartilage is exposed and two parallel incisions on superior crus were made. After mattress suturing in cartilage, the superior crus of antihelix was formed and its force enables the folded portion to be in a normal anatomic position. Result: All of 5 patients got satisfactory results. There were no complications like hematoma or skin necrosis, and no recurrence during follow - up period(the average period was 9 months). And we couldn't recognize the difference between height of both auricles. Conclusion: Mattress suture is simple, less invasive, and suitable on correcting mild deformity of constricted ear with better result, so here we suggest the method.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2009

Purpose: Materials for ear reconstruction are autogeneous cartilage and artificial implants. Despite their potential for donor site complications, autogeneous cartilage frameworks remain the accepted standard for external ear reconstruction. The purposes of this study were to investigate our ear reconstruction cases for 12 years. Methods: During twelve years from January 1996 to December 2008, 70 patients visited our hospital for ear reconstruction of microtia. Among them, 65 cases used autogenous cartilage frameworks, 3 cases used tissue expander and 2 cases used artificial implants. We investigated sex & age, common site, combined malformation, operation methods & their complications, donor site & their complications, anterior chest wall deformity and aesthetic evaluation. Results: Males were affected more often than females. Male to female ratio was 1.8 : 1. The common site of microtia was right ear (72%). And hemifacial microsomia was the most common associated congenital malformation. Surgical techniques included Tanzer-Ruecker method, Tissue-expander and Artificial framework ($Medpore^{(R)}$). Incidence of complication was higher with Tissue-expander & artificial framework than with Tanzer-Ruecker method. But There are few reports of using Tissue-expander & artificial framework and there was no acceptable statistical difference. And costal cartilage was harvested in ipsilateral side and anterior chest wall deformity reported only 2 cases under 10 year-old patients. Other minor complications reported such as, wound disruption and chest wall scar, but without any serious complications. Aesthetic result was evaluated by surgeons and patients for postoperative satisfaction and clinical evaluation. Conclusion: In ear reconstruction of microtia patient, delicate surgical strategy is important for natural shape and maintenance of postoperative contour. However, many methods were introduced for reconstrucion of microtia, the authors reconstructed an auricle in Tanzer-Ruecker method, Tissue-expander and Artificial famework ($Medpore^{(R)}$) for 70 patients. In our study, we generally chose Tanzer-Ruecker method and this treatment modality was satisfactory for patients and the postoperative result was acceptable for surgeons.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2011

Purpose: The focal ossification of auricular cartilage is an unusual clinical entity in which the ear becomes partially or totally rigid and immalleable. This condition may result from cold injury, local trauma, inflammation, or various systemic diseases. Patients may feel mild discomfort, but there are usually no other serious symptoms. We present a case of focal ossification of auricular cartilage in which the cause is unknown. Methods: A healthy 58-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of hard mass of right posterior auricular area. He denied any precipitating historical events like cold injury and inflammation. Routine testing did not demonstrate systemic abnormalities. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a $22{\times}10{\times}11mm$ sized heterogenous isoechoic mass showing an acoustic shadow. Results: Excisional biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. Histological examination revealed the ossification with deposition of trabecular bone in normal elastic cartilage. The patient was healed without any problems and satisfied with the result. Conclusion: We report clinical experience of focal ossification of auricular cartilage, which is quite a rare clinical entity. It should be considered that there is the possibility of ossification of cartilage when it meets the benign mass of the ear.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2018

Formation of an ideally-shaped tragus remains one of the most challenging issues during staged tragus reconstruction in microtia patients. The authors describe a new method used to treat a unique case of concha-type microtia in which the 10-year-old male patient had only a portion of pre-existing cartilage at the tragus site. An anomalous skin lump was also present. During the initial stages of the reconstruction, the two-stage Nagata method was used for surgical correction of the microtia. An autologous rib cartilage graft was used to form the ear framework. A temporoparietal fascia flap was also constructed. Remnant skin tags and anomalous cartilage that accompany microtia are usually removed during microtia repair. However, the cartilage and skin lump were preserved during the reconstruction. The skin lump was later used to form a vascularized chondrocutaneous island flap that supplemented the portion of cartilage during tragus formation. The result was a new tragus that was satisfactorily improved in both size and shape. Patients with concha-type microtia may benefit from the use of this new method for tragus formation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 2012

The synchondrosis between the sixth and seventh costal cartilage is usually used for the base frame in autogenous ear reconstruction. If the synchondrosis is loose, a variety of modifications can be devised. This report introduces new methods for these problems. In cases of incomplete synchondrosis, only the surface of the base block margin was smoothly tapered without carving for the removal of the conchal deepening. The secure fixation of the two segments (helix and antihelix) to the base block using fine wire sutures gave stability to the unstable basal frame. After confirming that all the segments were assembled in one stable piece, the remaining conchal deepening of the basal framework was removed, and the outer lower portion of the basal cartilage was trimmed along its whole length. A total of 10 consecutive patients with microtia, ranging from 8 to 13 years old, were treated from 2008 to 2009. The follow-up period was 6 months to 2 years. Despite incomplete synchondrosis, the stable frameworks were constructed using the authors' method and aesthetically acceptable results were achieved. The proposed method can provide an easy way to make a stable cartilage framework regardless of the variable conditions of synchondrosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2006

The current authors performed two-stage ear reconstruction of microtia using autogenous costal cartilage combined with canaloplasty of the acoustic meatus in a team approach. In the first stage, lobule transposition, fabrication of the cartilage framework, and implantation of the framework were peformed. In the second stage, elevation of the auricle, cartilage graft for posterior auricular sulcus, coverage with the mastoid fascia flap and skin graft, and concha excavation were performed. The canaloplasty was combined simultaneously in patients with radiologic and audiometric evidence of cochlear function in the second stage. A total of 36 consecutive patients with congenital microtia were treated from 1998 to 2003. Among them, 27 patients(male: 18, female: 9) ranging from 7 to 43 years old were combined with canaloplasty. The follow-up period was one year to 5 years. Thirteen patients exhibited improved hearing over 30 dB PTA(pure tone average), 9 patients below 30 dB, and 5 patients with no improvement. Complications related to the canaloplasty were chronic drainages of the auditory meatus and meatal stenosis. Lobule type deformity combined with the canaloplasty showed higher complications than concha type. Therefore, in the lobule type, meticulous manipulation is necessary to reduce complications after the canaloplasty.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2010

Unlike human, with some exceptions, animals do not heal with excessive scar. The lack of suitable animal model has hindered the development of effective scar therapy. We previously reported that partial thickness rabbit ear wound model resembles human wound heal process. This study was designed to prepare a hypertropic scar wound model which can be employed for testing anti-scar therapy. Four wounds were created down to the bare cartilage on the anterior side of each rabbit ear using 8-mm dermal biopsy punch and histology analysis at post operation day (POD) 5, 28 and 48 were performed. As the outcome of scar formation is largely determined by the early inflammatory response to the wounding and the degree and the duration of occlusion, cephalodin(50 mg/kg) was injected daily and medical occlusive dressings were applied. Five micro wound and scar sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for quantification of epidermal regeneration and scar hypertrophy. Sections were also stained using Masson's trichrome and Sirius red to evaluate collagen organization and rete ridge formation. Wound closure process was assessed to 7wks post wounding. Complete removal of the epidermis, dermis and perichondrial layer caused delayed epithelialization, which results in hypertropic scarring. The inability of the wounds to contract and the delay in epithelialization in rabbit ear was likely due to cartilage and it created scar elevation. The results suggest that full thickness surgical punch wound model in rabbit ear could be employed as a reliable and reproducible scar wound model for testing anti-scar therapy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.723-731
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• 2006

Purpose: Collagen is the principal structural biomolecule in cartilage extracellular matrix, which makes it a logical target for cartilage engineering. In this study, porous type I collagen scaffolds were cross-linked using dehydrothermal(DHT) treatment and/or 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide(EDC), in the presence and absence of chondroitin-6-sulfate(CS) for cartilage regeneration. Methods: Cartilage defects were created in the proximal part of the ear of New Zealand rabbits. Four types of scaffolds(n=4) were inserted. The types included DHT cross-linked(Group 1), DHT and EDC cross- linked(Group 2), CS added DHT cross-linked(Group 3), and CS added DHT and EDC cross-linked(Group 4). Histomorphometric analysis and cartilage-specific gene expression of the reconstructed tissues were evaluated respectively 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation. Results: The largest quantity of regenerated cartilage was found in DHT cross-linked groups 1 and 3 in the 8th week and then decreased in the 12th week, while calcification increased. Calcification was observed from the 8th week and the area increased in the 12th week. Group 4 was treated with EDC cross-linking and CS, and the matrix did not degrade in the 12th week. Cartilage-specific type II collagen mRNA expression increased with time in all groups. Conclusion: CS did not increase chondrogenesis in all groups. EDC cross-linking may prevent chondrocyte infiltration from the perichondrium into the collagen scaffold.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Background: The ear is composed of elastic cartilage as its framework, and is covered with a thin layer of skin. Auricular reconstruction using autogenous cartilage in microtia patients requires delicacy. This paper reports clinical experiences related to elevation of reconstructed ear in the last 11 years. Methods: This study was based on 68 congenital microtia patients who underwent auricular elevation in our hospital. Among these 68 patients, 47 patients were recruited. We compared the differences in the ear size, auriculocephalic angle, and conchal depth with those in the opposite ear, and the patients' satisfaction levels were investigated using a survey. Results: The difference in the sizes of the two ears was less than or equal to 5 mm in 32 patients, 5 to 10 mm in 10 patients, and greater than or equal to 10 mm in 5 patients. The difference in the auriculocephalic angles of the two ears was less than or equal to 10 degrees in 14 patients, 10 to 20 degrees in 26 patients, and greater than or equal to 20 degrees in 7 patients. The difference in the conchal depths of the two ears was less than or equal to 5 mm in 24 patients, 5 to 10 mm in 19 patients, and greater than or equal to 10 mm in 4 patients. The average grade of 3.9 points out of 5 points was obtained by the patients with satisfactory surveys. Conclusion: We could make enough protrusion and maintain the three-dimensional shape for a long time to satisfy our patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.282-284
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• 2019

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.