Otoplasty also called ear surgery corrects the ear abnormalities in children and adults. It corrects the ear shape, size, proportions, missing and extra parts that are either birth abnormalities or develop as a result of trauma.
INDICATIONS
- Prominent ears
- Spock ear
- Deformed ear
- Split ear lobe
- Stahl’s ear
- macrotia
ANESTHESIA:
Younger children are given general anesthesia and older ones can be operated in local anesthesia.
HOSPITAL STAY:
Both as day care procedure and inpatient
RECOVERY:
It is important that bandage remains on after ear surgery otherwise it may lead to unwanted complications and need to redo some procedures. Bandages may initially be a bit heavy and troublesome but it’s important not to remove it until advised. Recovery from ear surgery usually takes three to four weeks.
COMPLICATIONS:
- bleeding
- hematoma
- distorted ear shape due to blood collection
- wound infection
- wound breakdown
- revision surgery
- under correction
- overcorrection
FAQs
1. How long is the hospital stay for these ear procedures?
Elderly children operated under local anesthesia can be discharged the same day. Those operated in general anesthesia stay one night in hospital.
2. How are the bleeding complications managed?
Bleeding in ear surgery in which blood accumulates under ear skin is managed aggressively with revisit to theater and drainage of hematoma.
Written by : Dr. Mehtab Ahmed
Copyrights: Pakistan association of Plastic Surgeons