Microtia is an uncharted congenital medical condition that is characterized by the deformation of one or both of the ears along with partial or complete hearing loss. The condition is usually developed in the child due to the deficit growing in the womb of the mother, especially in the initial three months of the pregnancy (first trimester).
Few researchers have linked the Microtia in a newborn with the poor consumption of a diet rich in carbohydrates and folic acid or the underlying ailments like diabetes in a pregnant woman.
On the occasion of Microtia Awareness Day, we are here to bust a few myths swirling around this “not so known” ear deformity.
Microtia is not completely curable and rectifiable
False, it is one of the major misconceptions revolving around Microtia. The team of specialized doctors is skilled to restructure the ear and eradicating the condition from the cores.
The birth defect in infants often concerns the parents as it can affect the lifestyle, mental health, academic performance as well as day-to-day life of the child, but the consultants have assured that the condition is completely treatable with the least inconvenience caused.
Microtia depending upon the severity is classified into 4 types and with the overwhelming symptoms, different procedures are provided to the patient.
Type 1: A mild deformation of the outer ear solely, where the inner ear which is responsible for hearing is not affected and is well-developed.
Type 4:May be characterized by Anotia (complete deformation of the external ear). And the deterioration of the ear canal (a part of the outer ear) or the inner ear leads to impaired hearing power.
The surgery is unreliable and painful
No, the statement is not entirely true, though the protocol of Microtia Surgery might be protracted than the artificial methods accessible it is regarded as the most beneficial, safest, and long-lasting treatment for Microtia.
Within the patients with severe Microtia, paediatric surgeons frequently prescribe a method called Autologous construction to rebuild the malformed outer ear surgically.
In this surgical treatment, a small portion of rib cartilage is cut and employed as a graft to compose the ear.
Other alternatives like silicone implants are also available in the market, but the risks of being rejected by the patient’s own body are high because the body considers the silicon graft as a foreign substance and commences attacking it.
The cosmetologist and otolaryngologist suggest that the ideal age of the child to undergo the Autologous construction surgery is between 6-8 years. By this age, the cartilage is thoroughly developed, and by the time a child hits puberty, the surgical ear is seen virtually intact as the juvenile is born with it.
Multiple surgeries are required to fix the rudimentary ear
Yes, if the patient has opted for Autologous construction then he/she is indeed instructed to go through the 3 surgeries in total with a gap of 6 months in each. But if the person has a defective inner ear along with the outer ear therefore the surgeons will conduct 4 surgeries instead.
Various aspects are taken into consideration before the reconstruction of the ear.
The motive of all 4 surgical procedures are given below:
- 1st surgery is done to prepare a graft for which the cartilage from the rib cage is removed.
- 2nd surgery involves the adjustment of the implant as a new ear lobe.
- 3rd surgery includes the final touch-ups and uplifting the ear to provide a more sophisticated posture of the ear.
- 4th surgery is executed after completing the implantation of the outer ear. This method is performed to rehabilitate the ailment caused in the inner ear.
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