Complications of ear reconstruction surgery: a study / Estudo das complicações na reconstrução de orelha

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Introduction: The distinctive anatomic features and topography render the ear unique in the human body. Total or partial reconstruction of the ear may be required in many clinical conditions, but because technical difficulties are common, the rate of postoperative complications increases. Objectives: To analyze the epidemiologic data of patients who underwent surgery for reconstruction of the ear due to congenital conditions (microtia) or acquired deformities (trauma, burns and others), and to compare the results in order to define which group had the lowest rate of complications. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted with 279 cases of ear reconstruction performed between 1994 and 2004 by the Discipline of Plastic Surgery of the University of São Paulo Medical School. The patients were initially separated in two groups, according to their condition (congenital or acquired), to compare their data. Results: Male was the prevailing gender in both groups of ear deformities: congenital (61.3%) and acquired conditions (68.7%). The patients with congenital deformities had a mean age of 14.3 years at the beginning of the treatment, whereas the patients with acquired deformities were 29.5 years old, in average. The major causes of acquired deformities were trauma (55% of the cases in this group) and burns (29%). The only cause of congenital deformity observed was microtia. Patients required an average of 4.2 surgical procedures. However, those with sequelae of burn injuries were submitted to a significantly higher number of procedures (5.9 - p <0.01). Cartilage exposure (15.1% of the total) and postauricular bridles (16.5%) were the major complications observed in this study. The latter was more common among those cases with microtia and sequelae of burns. Conclusions: Patients with traumatic injuries had a better outcome after surgery than those with microtia or burn injuries, because of a lower rate of complications.

ASSUNTO(S)

ear/surgery orelha/cirurgia plastic/rehabilitation ear/pathology orelha/patologia ear/abnormalities surgery cirurgia plástica/reabilitação ear/growth &development orelha/crescimento e desenvolvimento orelha/anormalidades

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