[Reflections concerning the reconstruction of the pinna of the ear (author's transl)].

Reconstruction of the pinna of the ear is a difficult enterprise and overall results are poor. It is nevertheless essential to persist since despite the hazards of such surgery many patients wish to have an operation since they are unable to tolerate their deformity. Apart from the cutaneous problem, the most important point remains that of bitterness. There are still many partisans of the use of costal cartilage, but it would seem legitimate to also try new implantable substances, in particular microporous. Whatever the choice, it is important in all cases to establish a programme rather then improvise. This is the only way to reduce the number of operative stages, to avoid untoward scars and to decrease the number of "touching up" procedures. Despite the many difficulties which must still be resolved, a certain number of modern studies offer hope of an improvement in results.