subject: Microtia Patients - Treatment And Diagnosis [print this page] Roughly one child in every 7,000 is born with the deformity, making the chances of having more than one child with the condition extremely rare. In this article, we will provide a general overview of this condition along with treatment options and diagnosis procedures for dealing with Microtia patients.
Many parents tend to hold themselves responsible for the occurrence of microtia in their children, and are often concerned that they may have caused it due to something gone wrong during the pregnancy. While there is a rare tendency for the condition to persist in families, there is no known physical, pharmaceutical, or dietary cause for it's appearance. The condition is generally thought to occur during the early pregnancy stages.
Diagnosis
The appearance of the deformity is the most common form of diagnosis. However the patient's ability to hear will often remain questionable. After birth, a hearing test is performed on the newborn. In cases where there is still uncertainty regarding hearing abilities, an additional testing may prove beneficial. In addition, a CT scan around ages 2 1/2 to 3 may be an option to help determine whether reconstructive measures can be taken.
Types
Patients who have this condition range from having a smaller ear, to a complete lack of one. The ear drum and canal can sometimes be partially formed, or non existent. The severity of the condition can be measured on a scale of one to four.
*Grade One - This includes small abnormalities when compared to the appearance of the opposite ear and generally requires only minor reconstructive methods.
*Grade Two - In general, the upper half of the affected ear will appear deformed, while the bottom half remains normal in appearance.
*Grade Three - The affected ear will be small and somewhat peanut-shaped. It will have a partial earlobe, and have no external ear drum or canal. This grade is the most common.
*Grade Four - The final, and most severe grade, these patients will have no ear at all.
Treatment
Overall, there are three basic reconstructive options available. The ability to understand the differences between them, and select the appropriate method is crucial to the success of the treatment.
MEDPOR Reconstruction - This is a synthetic material that acts as a frame, and is covered by tissues taken from the patients own body.
Silicone Reconstruction - This process involves the sculpting of an artificial ear, which attaches to the body through the use of adhesives or surgical implants.
Rib Cartilage Reconstruction - A process in which rib cartilage is taken from the patient in order to construct an artificial ear.
by: Abigail Aaronson
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