Triangular flap repair of the congenital earlobe cleft.

Repair of a congenital earlobe cleft was performed on 16 patients using a new surgical technique derived from the Tennison-Randall triangular flap operation for cheiloplasty. There were no complications. This method was applied because the deformities and desired outcomes in the congenital earlobe cleft are similar to those of the cleft lip. Many papers have described surgery for congenital and acquired clefts; the former differs from the latter in some respects. The techniques described for the repair of acquired clefts are not always appropriate for congenital clefts. In addition, some operations specifically designed for congenital clefts require more complicated techniques. Using our technique to correct lobule deformities with a triangular flap in proportion to the angle and extent of the cleft, a superior cosmetic result was obtained in the repair of longitudinal earlobe clefts.