Otoplasty Using Dermoperichondrial Flap as an Adjunct to Mustarde Suture Technique

Abstract

Prominent ears are congenital deformities that are challenging to correct due to the risk of postoperative recurrence. While they have been traditionally reconstructed with cartilage excision or scoring and with cartilaginous sutures, flap techniques have been developed over the last 2 decades to improve the structural integrity of these repairs. The addition of a local flap helps to sustain long standing operative correction while maintaining optimal cosmetic outcomes that have been reported, particularly after cartilage sparing techniques. The authors describe a lateral dermoperichondrial flap on the posterior ear as an adjunct to the use of Mustarde sutures and contextualize its use in the landscape of existing otoplasty techniques.