Microtia is often combined with no ear canal (i.e., external auditory canal atresia), and should be seen immediately in a hospital ENT department. Depending on the degree of the condition, it is categorized as moderate, severe mild, and severe severe, and treatment should be surgical.
Microtia combined with external auditory canal atresia is usually treated with direct-entry pathway external auditory canal-middle ear reconstruction. Surgery is usually performed when imaging reveals normal development of the inner and inner ear canals and the auditory nerve; normal cochlear function; uniform and consistent sclerotic-type bone within the external auditory canal area with clear boundaries to the surrounding bone; and no anterior displacement of the mastoid segment of the facial nerve.
The surgery can reshape the outer ear canal according to the degree of deformity of the patient’s outer and inner ear. The patient is left with an aesthetically pleasing outer ear. However, it may lead to surgical complications such as facial paralysis, re-stenosis or atresia of the external auditory canal, sensorineural deafness and infection of the operative cavity, so it requires a doctor’s evaluation to decide whether or not to take the surgery.
Patients are advised to visit the ENT department of the hospital immediately and choose the appropriate treatment under the guidance of the doctor in order to maximize the quality of life of the patient.