Anotia is a rare birth defect where the outer ear is completely absent, often associated with hearing damage. Surgery to reconstruct the ear is recommended between the ages of five and seven, using cartilage and skin grafts. Causes may be genetic or environmental, and it’s important to seek treatment at a specialized hospital.
Anotia is a very rare congenital anomaly in which the outer part of the ear is completely absent. It is difficult to determine the incidence of anotia because this birth defect is often associated with microtia, in which part of the ear is missing, for statistical purposes. There are no obvious risk factors for anotia, and it can sometimes occur as part of a congenital condition or syndrome, in which a variety of other abnormalities may also occur.
In true anotia, where the auricle is missing, the patient is usually diagnosed very soon after birth. A doctor may recommend follow-up exams to check your child’s hearing, because anotia is sometimes associated with hearing damage. Surgery to reconstruct the ear is recommended between the ages of five and seven, after the child has had a chance to mature slightly, allowing the reconstructive plastic surgeon performing the surgery to get close to the existing ear.
A series of ear reconstruction surgeries are required. The surgeon takes cartilage grafts from the ribs to build the body of the ear and skin grafts to cover the ear. In a number of surgeries, the grafts will be encouraged to grow and sculpted by the surgeon to look realistic. Once the surgeries are complete, the patient should have a very realistic replacement for the missing ear.
Anotia and microtia are both caused by problems with ear development in the fetal state. The signals become confused, growth does not occur, and the ear remains absent instead of developing, or does not develop normally, leading to microtia. This may be related to environmental exposure, such as in cases of infants born to mothers who took thalidomide during pregnancy, and sometimes a genetic condition may lead to anotia. In other cases, there are no clear causes and something simply went wrong during the child’s development.
When selecting a surgeon to reconstruct your missing or malformed ear, it’s a good idea to look for a surgeon who has experience with patients who have anotia or microtia. Patients may also find it helpful to seek treatment at a hospital that specializes in caring for children with congenital conditions. A medical team can evaluate your child for any other signs of problems, providing prompt intervention and addressing the missing ear as well.
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