RECONSTRUCTION OF EAR USING HARVESTED CARTILAGE FROM AMPUTATED EAR AND TEMPERO-PARIETAL FASCIAL FLAP

When patients present with total ear avulsion, the options available are, replantation of the avulsed ear1, banking the ear cartilage in subcutaneous pocket for later reconstruction 2-5 and reattachment as composite graft 6 . Many times replantation of the avulsed ear is not possible because it is crushed and unfit for replantation or the patient has other associated injuries and cannot withstand lengthy procedures or the microvascular expertise is not available 7 . In such situations the cartilage framework can be harvested from the avulsed ear and banked in a sub cutaneous pocket created in the post auricular region .This is a short procedure and can be done under local anaesthesia. After 3 to 6 months the ear can be reconstructed using the banked cartilage and the pedicled temporo parietal fascial flap. The totally avulsed ear reattached as a composite graft usually does not survive in our hot weather conditions.