Reconstruction of Defective Type Congenital Cleft Earlobe with S-shaped Flap

Kim, Tae Gon; Lee, Taik Jong

Abstract

PURPOSE
Congenital cleft earlobe is relatively rare malformation and defective type congenital cleft earlobes are reconstructed with mainly local flap methods rather than primary closure or z-plasty. Various methods are introduced but many of these remain visible scars or require complex operative techniques. We designed a new and simple method of reconstruction for defective type cleft earlobe.
METHODS
On the posterior surface of the auricle and mastoid area, S-shaped line was drawn continuously. One arc is for turnover hinge flap to make the anterolateral surface of the earlobe, and the other is for transposition flap to reconstruct the posterolateral surface. The donor site of the transposition flap was closed primarily.
RESULTS
Four patients were operated by S-shaped flap design method. They were all female, and defective sides were right in two and left in another two. We obtained aesthetically satisfactory postoperative results with inconspicuous scars at the posterior side of the auricle. In one case, minor revision was performed because of insufficient blood supply of the hinge flap.
CONCLUSION
We can reconstruct defective type cleft earlobe with new, simple S-shaped design for hinge flap and transposition flap.