What you don't know about neonatal external ear deformity, it is recommended to deal with it in this way

Photo: Li Jingyu Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital

Reviewer: Wu Sufan, Chief Physician, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital

Domestic and foreign literature reports that the incidence of external ear malformation in newborns is as high as about 50%. Doesn't it feel incredible? Why do so many people not know about such a big thing? Because some newborns have mild external ear malformation and are generally invisible. In addition, there is a lack of relevant popular science knowledge. Not only parents and confinement nannies do not know much about it, but many obstetric and pediatric medical staff also do not know much about it, resulting in some external ear malformations being often ignored.

Seeing this, did you involuntarily touch your ears? A beautiful ear has a very complex structure. Common external ear deformities include protruding ears, hidden ears, cup ears, drooping ears, retracted ears, Stahl's ears, Conchal Crus ears and helix deformity. Most of these external ear deformities do not affect the function of the ears, but some people who care about appearance may think that the ears are not beautiful enough.

Figure 1 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

What causes these external ear deformities?

These external ear deformities are generally caused by external factors such as fetal sleeping position and birth canal compression. Some are also caused by relatively minor developmental deformities of the ear cartilage and muscles, but they have not yet been widely verified.

Parents, confinement nannies, and even some doctors believe that newborns' external ear deformities do not need to be treated and will heal naturally as they grow up. Is this really the case?

Only a few children with these external ear deformities can heal themselves, but doctors cannot predict this at present. If they do not heal themselves, these external ear deformities will persist, and some may even get worse. If a newborn is found to have the above external ear deformities, parents must not hesitate or delay to avoid missing the "golden period" for treatment.

How should a newborn baby be treated if he or she has external ear deformities?

Non-invasive ear mold correction can be used. This technology is non-invasive and only relies on the external force of the mold to correct. It was first proposed by Japanese plastic surgery expert Matsuo K in the 1980s. Subsequently, it has achieved good results in Japan and European and American countries. In recent years, it has also begun to become popular in China and has become a mature treatment technology.

In the past, if the external ear deformity was severe, the child had to wait until he was five or six years old to undergo surgery. But now, non-invasive correction technology is gradually becoming popular.

Why can external ear deformities in newborns be corrected non-invasively?

Studies have found that newborns have high concentrations of maternal estrogen in their bodies, which peaks 3 days after birth and returns to normal levels 6 weeks later. Hyaluronic acid is an important component of ear cartilage, and its content is affected by maternal estrogen, which in turn affects the plasticity of the auricle. In this short time window after the birth of a newborn, auricle morphological deformities can be treated through mechanical correction methods. However, the plasticity of this cartilage decreases over time after the birth of a newborn, so it is recommended to start correction within 2 weeks after the child is born. The earlier it is started, the better the effect.

What are the specific procedures for non-invasive external ear deformity correction?

The special silicone mold is pasted and fixed around the ear, and then the silicone parts and tape are used to pull and press the position that needs to be corrected. Parents are required to cooperate in maintaining the mold and try not to scratch it or loosen it. Observe the local skin condition and go to the hospital for follow-up in time. Usually, a follow-up visit is conducted one week after the first wearing, and then every two weeks. The total treatment time is 6 to 8 weeks, but if you cannot insist on wearing it or the correction is not timely, the treatment time will be extended.

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What is the effectiveness of non-invasive external ear deformity correction?

The efficacy of non-invasive correction of external ear deformities is closely related to the type of external ear deformity and the time of starting treatment. If the deformity is not complex and the correction treatment is performed within the recommended time, the child can basically return to normal.

If the baby is older than 6 weeks old, can it still be treated?

For children with complex auricular deformities and delayed correction, the later the treatment time, the worse the treatment effect, but the effect is also related to the type of deformity, so it is recommended to consult a doctor. Generally speaking, there is still a chance for treatment within 4 months after birth, but the effect and course of treatment will be affected, and the later the effect is, the greater the impact. Only in the case of cryptotia, there is still a chance to treat within 3 years of age.

Why is non-invasive external ear deformity correction more recommended now?

1. The cost is similar to or even lower than future surgery.

2. It is non-invasive and avoids possible bleeding, hematoma, infection, unsatisfactory correction, anesthesia risks and scars that may occur during surgery.

3. The child will not have any bad memories, will not be laughed at by his peers during his growth, will not develop an inferiority complex, and will not suffer the pain of surgery and a long recovery period in the future.

4. Non-invasive correction technology is now very mature and has good therapeutic effects.

In summary, external ear deformities are relatively common in newborns and need to be diagnosed promptly by a specialist to determine whether correction is needed. Non-invasive correction is painless and has good efficacy, but it has high requirements for the timing of treatment. Parents must not hesitate to let their baby have a pair of beautiful ears!