Primary Reattachment of Near-Complete Ear Amputation: A Successful Outcome

Abstract

Objectives: Traumatic amputation of the ear constitutes a great aesthetic deformity that can have a tremendous negative impact. Reports describing the survival of near-complete ear amputation using non-microsurgical replantation are scarce. We aimed to study the surgical outcome of patients with near-complete ear amputations supplied by small pedicle bridges that were treated with primary reattachment.

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with near-complete ear amputation who were admitted at Al Ain Hospital from January 2016 to December 2019.

Results: Five patients were studied. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle injury, followed by cutting injury. The skin pedicle was inferior in 3 (60%) patients of patients. The median width of the skin pedicles was 8.5 mm. The median interval between the injury and the surgical management was 4 hours. All patients underwent primary reattachment of the ear without microsurgery. One patient developed a small area of necrosis of the ear lobe. All patients recovered with a completely healed pinna and satisfactory overall appearance.

Conclusions: Primary reattachment without microsurgery of the near-complete ear amputation can be safely performed in the presence of an intact skin pedicle. It can achieve an aesthetically satisfactory outcome without severe complications.

Keywords: ear amputation; ear avulsion; near-complete; primary attachment; subtotal; surgery.