Microtia - Techniques Used to Treat It
Microtia is a birth deformity that affects the ear and occurs once in approximately every 5,000 to 7,000 births.
The term microtia means "small ear".
There are three different grades of the deformity.
These include: Grade 3- (typical microtia)- a wrinkle of skin that closely resembles a sausage Grade 2- resembles a miniature hearing organ but is not as severe as grade 3 Grade 1- an hearing organ that is minimally deformed and is the least severe of the three grades In 85 to 90 percent of the cases only one hearing organ is deformed and not both.
This condition is more likely to affect the right one than the left one.
In fact there are twice as many right instances of this medical problem as there are left.
It is also important to note that boys are affected by this problem more than girls are (65 percent of the former and 35 percent of the latter).
There are two main techniques used by doctors to correct the problem.
The technique chosen is dependent upon what substance the physician decides to use in order to build the framework.
One method is to use living tissue from the patient's own body (usually the rib cartilage) while the other is to fashion one with the help of a firm kind of artificial plastic.
The surgeon will take all necessary factors into consideration in deciding what is in the best interests of the individual patient.
This will also be discussed with the parents of the child at length in order to get their input.
Whenever possible doctors like to use living tissue because the new ear grows with the patient and is very much alive.
The healing period generally goes smoothly and the child is able to return to gym class and sporting activities, as well as swimming, in four to six weeks following the surgery.
Living tissue used in this manner keeps its shape and form throughout the patient's lifetime and poses no serious concerns.
The creation of a realistic looking external ear is a procedure that must be performed by a craniofacial plastic surgeon that has specialized training in this area.
Hearing loss sometimes occurs in a person who suffers from microtia.
If this is the case then the individual will be sent to a doctor who specializes in problems connected to the ear, nose and throat.
This kind of doctor is known as an otolaryngologist.
This doctor treats hearing abnormalities as they relate to this medical condition.
He also can treat other abnormalities such as canal reconstruction (or atresia repair).
The term microtia means "small ear".
There are three different grades of the deformity.
These include: Grade 3- (typical microtia)- a wrinkle of skin that closely resembles a sausage Grade 2- resembles a miniature hearing organ but is not as severe as grade 3 Grade 1- an hearing organ that is minimally deformed and is the least severe of the three grades In 85 to 90 percent of the cases only one hearing organ is deformed and not both.
This condition is more likely to affect the right one than the left one.
In fact there are twice as many right instances of this medical problem as there are left.
It is also important to note that boys are affected by this problem more than girls are (65 percent of the former and 35 percent of the latter).
There are two main techniques used by doctors to correct the problem.
The technique chosen is dependent upon what substance the physician decides to use in order to build the framework.
One method is to use living tissue from the patient's own body (usually the rib cartilage) while the other is to fashion one with the help of a firm kind of artificial plastic.
The surgeon will take all necessary factors into consideration in deciding what is in the best interests of the individual patient.
This will also be discussed with the parents of the child at length in order to get their input.
Whenever possible doctors like to use living tissue because the new ear grows with the patient and is very much alive.
The healing period generally goes smoothly and the child is able to return to gym class and sporting activities, as well as swimming, in four to six weeks following the surgery.
Living tissue used in this manner keeps its shape and form throughout the patient's lifetime and poses no serious concerns.
The creation of a realistic looking external ear is a procedure that must be performed by a craniofacial plastic surgeon that has specialized training in this area.
Hearing loss sometimes occurs in a person who suffers from microtia.
If this is the case then the individual will be sent to a doctor who specializes in problems connected to the ear, nose and throat.
This kind of doctor is known as an otolaryngologist.
This doctor treats hearing abnormalities as they relate to this medical condition.
He also can treat other abnormalities such as canal reconstruction (or atresia repair).
