Auricular rehabilitation with bone-anchored titanium implants

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the bone-anchored titanium implants in auricular reconstructions.

Study design: Six patients who received implants for an auricular reconstruction were followed prospectively. Four patients had lost their ears to cancer, and the other two had congenital aural atresia.

Methods: All patients were thoroughly evaluated by the reconstruction team, which included a surgeon, a prosthodontist, and a facial prosthetist. Three patients were evaluated audiologically for a bone-anchored hearing aid. Four patients received implants in a single-stage procedure, and two underwent a two-stage procedure. A gold bar with retaining clips was used to anchor the prosthetic ear in four patients, and magnets were used in the remaining two.

Results: All six patients are completely satisfied with their reconstructions. No failures, extrusions, or bony complications were encountered. One patient had recurrent dermatitis, which subsided when his gold bar was replaced with magnets.

Conclusion: Implanted under the guidance of an appropriate prosthetic team, bone-anchored titanium implants provide patients with a safe, reliable, adhesive-free method to anchor auricular prostheses with recovery of their normal appearance.