Study on application of ear correction model to infantile cryptotia.

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical application of ear correction model in infantile cryptotia.

METHODS

A total of 108 children including 135 ears were selected from October 2016 to January 2018. The age of the children ranged from 7 days to 840 days, with an average age of 100.88 days. The children were divided into four groups based on age: group A (<28 days), group B (28 days-90 days), group C (90 days-180 days), and group D (>180 days). All the children were corrected by using ear correction models. The effective time, consolidated time and completely corrected time were calculated based on the auricular morphology.

RESULTS

The auricle morphology of the affected ears was nearly the same as the normal after correction by ear correction model. Statistical differences were observed on treatment time between the groups (P < 0.05), except for group B and group C (P > 0.05). In terms of complications, statistical differences were observed between the groups (P < 0.05), except for group A and group B (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The ear correction model is remarkably effective in infants with cryptotia of not only less than 6 months, but also for children with cryptotia of more than 6 months. Infants under 6 months had shorter treatment time and lower complications, while infants beyond 6 months had more treatment time and higher complications.