An innervated retroauricular skin flap for total earlobule reconstruction

• Published in: British journal of plastic surgery Vol. 56; no. 8; pp. 818 - 821
• Main Authors: Cordova, A, D'Arpa, S, Moschella, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Basal cell carcinoma; Biological and medical sciences; Ear Neoplasms - surgery; Ear reconstruction; Ear, External - surgery; Earlobule; Female; Humans; Innervated flap; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Retroauricular skin; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps; Treatment Outcome; Xeroderma Pigmentosum - complications; Ear reconstruction; Basal cell carcinoma; Retroauricular skin; Earlobule; Innervated flap; Case study; Human; Skin disease; Treatment; Stomatology; Surgery; Skin; Anatomical reconstruction; Ear lobe; Flap (surgery); Retroauricular
• ISSN: 0007-1226; 1465-3087
• DOI: 10.1016/S0007-1226(03)00378-3

In this article, the authors describe a technique for total earlobule reconstruction in a patient who underwent earlobule excision for basal cell carcinoma. The reconstruction was by means of an innervated retroauricular skin flap, folded double. The flap presented preserved skin sensitivity over all the reconstructed area, which is compromised by those techniques using a cranially or medially based flap which lead to the reconstruction of an insensible earlobule. This is a very important aspect of this technique, especially for those who wear pendant earrings, since a non-sensitive lobule would be more vulnerable to traumas causing laceration. In addition, it allows a good aesthetic result without evident donor site scars. Further investigation is needed to decide if this method is suitable for other types of total earlobule loss (e.g. congenital, traumatic), or not.