Auricular Reconstruction of a Child’s Ear: Phase 3

Your child’s outer ear (auricle) is missing or underdeveloped (called microtia). Surgery can be done to build your child an outer ear. The surgery is done in several phases. The exact details of each surgery and the number of surgeries needed depend on the surgeon and on the structures present in your child’s ear. In general, during Phase 3, details of the outer ear are formed. This sheet explains the procedure and what to expect. Often, microtia happens with varying degrees of hearing loss. Your child's hearing loss may be corrected at a later time through different treatments.

Auricular reconstruction is done during three or more surgeries. Phase 3 is often done about 3 to 6 months after phase 2. This gives the child time to heal from the second procedure. For some children, this will be the last procedure. For others, one or more further procedures will be needed. Your child's surgeon can tell you more.

Side view of the ear before and after the reconstruction of the concha and tragus.

Preparing for surgery

In an age-appropriate manner, explain the surgery to your child. Prepare your child for the surgery as you have been told. Tell the surgeon about all medicines your child takes. This includes over-the-counter medicines. It also includes herbs and other supplements. Your child may need to stop taking some or all of them before surgery. Also, follow any instructions you’re given for preventing your child from eating or drinking before surgery.

The day of surgery

The phase 3 surgery takes about 1 to 2 hours. Your child may need to stay in the hospital afterward. Or, they may go home the same day. Before the surgery begins:

To keep your child from feeling pain during the procedure, they are given general anesthesia. This puts your child in a deep sleep through the procedure.
When your child is asleep, an IV (intravenous) line is put into a vein in your child’s arm or hand. This line delivers fluids and medicines. A tube is then passed through your child’s mouth into the windpipe (trachea) to help with breathing during surgery. Special equipment monitors your child’s heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. The surgeon then begins.

During the procedure

The concha is formed. The concha is the bowl-shaped part of the ear, just outside the ear canal. The skin on the inside of the new ear is carefully removed. This makes a bowl shape.
Cartilage and the skin flap are collected. An incision is made on the front or back of the concha of the normal ear (the one without microtia). A small flap of cartilage and skin is removed. The incision is closed with stitches.
The tragus is created. The tragus is the small bump of cartilage in front of the opening of the ear canal. The cartilage and skin flap taken from the normal ear are stitched to the skin in front of the newly formed concha. Special dressings are placed on the concha and on both sides of the tragus. The dressings are stitched to the skin. They hold the new parts of the ear in place as the ear heals.
One or more tubes (drains) may be placed near incisions. This drains any fluid that builds up in the area after surgery.

Recovering in the hospital

When the surgery is complete, your child will be taken to a room to wake up from the anesthesia. You may be able to see your child at this time. Your child will be watched as they rest. Pain medicine can be given if needed. If your child needs to stay overnight, you and your child will be taken to a hospital room. You will be told when you can take your child home.

Recovering at home

Once home, follow any instructions you are given for caring for your child. During your child’s recovery:

Give prescribed medicines as instructed. Even if your child doesn’t complain of pain, give the medicine on time. Don't wait for the pain to get bad. (This makes the pain harder to control.)
Do your best to prevent your child from touching the ear. Don’t let siblings or other children touch your child’s ear or play roughly around your child as they heal.
If your child is sent home with a drain in an incision, follow the instructions you were given for how to care for it.

When to call the healthcare provider

Be sure you have a contact number for your child’s surgeon. After you get home, call if your child has any of the following:

Fever of 100.4° F ( 38° C) or higher, or as directed by your child's surgeon
Bleeding or a large amount of drainage from an incision
Symptoms of infection at an incision site, such as increased redness or swelling, warmth, worsening pain, or foul-smelling drainage
Any injury to the ear

Follow-up

Take your child for scheduled follow-up visits. If appropriate for your child's age, encourage them to write down questions or concerns about the procedure. Make time during the visit for your child's questions or concerns to be discussed. During these visits, the surgeon will check to be sure the ear is healing correctly. At this time, you and the surgeon can discuss if any further surgeries are needed to complete the ear.