A Quilting Suture Technique for the Correction of Prominent Ears.

Seo, Jae Don; Han, Sang Baek; Oh, Kap Sung

Original Article

Journal of Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association 2001;2(2):111-113.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine Inje University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

A great number of operative techniques has been described about the correction of the prominent ears. The most primary deformity of the prominent ears comes from an underdeveloped or unfolded antihelix, which results in widening of the conchoscaphal angle and/or flattening of the superior crus, and which, in severe forms, involves antihelical body and inferior crus. Most authors manage the prominent ear deformity by excising, suturing, scoring, or sculpturing the auricular cartilage. We carried out a modified quilting suture technique in order to produce an antihelix. This technique provides several advantages; 1) it prevents the bowstring of the suture material during the formation of the helix; 2) the procedure is easy and time-saving; 3) the reconstructed ear shows reliable results in firmness and stability against external force or trauma; 4) the recurrence rate is not more than that of the conventional methods.

Keywords: Prominent ear; Quilting suture technique