What is Microtia?

What is Microtia? Microtia is when a person is born with an ear that is deformed. This particular deformity is most common in infants who are male. Some cases may be worse than others. It also happens most of the time to the right ear. Parents will have a hard time when finding out that their infant has Microtia. Fortunately, there is a surgery children can undergo to restore the deformed ear. There is a very low percentage of Microtia cases where both ears are deformed. Most often it will only appear on the right ear. The developing of hearing occurs in the womb before the deformity happens. This means that children with Microtia are able to hear just fine. The part of the ear that does all the hearing is the inner part of the ear. The middle and outer part of the ear is affected by Microtia. It is not yet known what causes Microtia in children. There are, however, theories as to how children are born with this ear deformity. It could be blood not getting to the baby somehow while in the womb, some kind of prescription drugs taken, or genetically passed to the baby. Medications that are thought to cause Microtia are Accutane, Thalidomide, and Retinoic Acid. Another theory is that the mother was exposed to a dangerous chemical causing this birth defect. There are different levels of Microtia. Some being more severe than others. Grade one is the mildest form of this birth defect and the most severe is called Anotia. When children are born with Anotia, the most severe type of Microtia, external ear has not formed at all. The inside of the ear, however, has totally formed normally so the hearing still works. With grade one of Microtia, the external ear is very small. It will look out of proportion with the body. Grade two of Microtia the external ear did not develop appropriately and will look deformed. Grade three of Microtia the earlobe has developed a little differently, still looking deformed. If the parent chooses to have the ear reconstructed because of Microtia, there is a surgery that is available. The result will be an ear that looks pretty normal when compared to the deformed ear before. The reconstruction of the ear bones may need to happen and children might need to use a hearing aid. - These reconstructive procedures are often performed in several stages. The reconstructive surgery will need to take place in different stages. It is best to start when children with Microtia are young. If a child is older, his or her self-esteem may suffer knowing their ear was deformed and remembering the surgery. Doctors can start as young as age three. During the surgery doctors might use bone or cartilage from the rib cage and reconstruct the ear because of Microtia. The bone from the children's own body so that the body does not reject the new ear. Other options include plastic implants instead of bone to reconstruct the ear. Or children can always receive a prosthetic ear to fix the Microtia. If you are looking to have reconstructive surgery for your child, it is best to find a surgeon who is a specialist in the procedure. This will give you the best outcome possible.

It is not yet known what causes Microtia in children. There are, however, theories as to how children are born with this ear deformity. It could be blood not getting to the.... Learn more at Microtia and congenital ear deformity