gms | German Medical Science

82nd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

01.06. - 05.06.2011, Freiburg

Ear reconstruction with porous polyethylen: results, patient satisfaction and quality of life

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker John Martin Hempel - Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
  • Sonja Gratza - Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
  • Alexander Berghaus - Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
  • author Thomas Braun - Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 82nd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Freiburg, 01.-05.06.2011. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2011. Doc11hno53

doi: 10.3205/11hno53, urn:nbn:de:0183-11hno539

Published: August 3, 2011

© 2011 Hempel et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Aim: Evulation of results and subjective benefit after ear reconstruction using a porous polyethylene framework and a temporoparietal fascia flap in a children and adult patient cohort.

Methods: 78 patients received validated questionnaires to analyze the effect of the reconstruction on health-related quality of life (Glasgow Benefit Inventory, GBI, or Glasgow Children’s Benefit Inventory, GCBI). GBI and GCBI scores can range from –100 (maximal adverse effect), through 0 (no effect), to 100 (maximal positive effect). Satisfaction, complaints and complications regarding the reconstructed ear were also compiled.

Results: 65 patients (83.3%) returned a valid questionnaire. For the adults’ cohort (n=45), the mean total GBI score was 21.2. 72.7% were satisfied with the aesthetical result, and 86.7% would again decide in favor of the operation.

For the children’s cohort (n=20), the mean total GCBI score was 27.7. 70.0% of the parents and 85.0% of the children were satisfied with the aesthetical result, and 95.0% of the parents and 90.0% of the children would again decide in favor of the operation. Quality of life was raised in 75.6% of the adults and 100% of the children.

Scars and feel of the reconstructed ear were the main complaints in both cohorts. Patients with acquired auricular defects were about two times as likely not to be satisfied with the result compared to patients with congenital defects.

Conclusions: Auricular reconstruction with porous polyethylene can significantly increase quality of life and leads to a high rate of patient satisfaction.