3D Technique-Based Nonsurgical Correction of Deformational Congenital Auricular Deformities.

INTRODUCTION

Congenital auricular deformity (CAD) is a common postpartum deformity, and nonsurgical correction of CAD has been recognized as a safe and effective approach. Three-dimensional (3D) technique has been used in surgical reconstruction of unilateral microtia; however, 3D technique used in nonsurgical correction for deformational CAD has not been reported.

METHODS

In this study, 12 CAD patients aged from 0.6 to 7 months with 16 deformational CAD were treated with 3D technique-based personalized nonsurgical correction (3D-NSC). Patients' CAD was photographed pre- and post-correction, and clinical outcome was evaluated as poor, fair, good, and excellent by comparing pre- and post-correction pictures. Different kinds of tests were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

All patients got an improved auricle shape (10 excellent, 2 good, and 4 fair). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CAD type was significantly associated with correction outcome, sex and age were significantly associated with correction outcome for the 11 constructed types of CAD, and age was significantly associated with the correction outcome when we focused on the male constructed auricles.

CONCLUSION

3D-NSC provided a significant nonsurgical clinical treatment for CAD patients, with younger patients getting better clinical outcomes with shorter correction time.