PR10HELIX SWITCH FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF SEGMENTAL HELICAL RIM/SCAPHA DEFECT: A CASE REPORT

• Published in: ANZ journal of surgery Vol. 79; no. s1; p. A56
• Main Authors: Farhadieh, R. D., Wong, W., Dickinson, G. F., Ee, E., Morrison, W. A. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-05-2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Cartilage; Clinical outcomes; Ears & hearing; Injuries; Plastic surgery; Surgical techniques
• ISSN: 1445-1433; 1445-2197
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04927_10.x

A 35 year old man presented to clinic having lost the central two thirds of his left helix and lateral scapha following a human bite. A switch procedure using the root of the opposite helix and adjacent scaphoid cartilage was considered and performed secondarily. The right helix was harvested with a long pedicle length on the superficial temporal (ST) vessels. The vascular pedicle emerged posteriorly from the graft at its transferred site and was tunnelled under the ear to the preauricular ST vessels for anastomosis. Primary donor site defect was closed with a postauricular flap. Postoperatively leech therapy was commenced on day one for a total duration of 4 days. The patient was discharged and followed up in clinic with no complications. Ear reconstruction remains one of the most challenging aspects of reconstructive surgery. Here, we report of a novel alternative ear switch procedure for reconstruction of the helical rim. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]