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Prominent Ears in Young Children Corrected by Nonsurgical Technique

Prominent ears in young children may now be effectively corrected by a new nonsurgical technique. Short-term effects of the nonsurgical auricular correction procedure are good to fair in 89 percent of pinnae treated, say Danish researchers. However, long-term management requires motivation by the parents and the child. But treatment at an early age can avoid psychosocial and cosmetic problems during school age years.

A total of 56 pinnae of 44 children between three months and 5.5 years of age were treated at Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark with the so called Auri method, using a "clip and strip".

The clip is a specially designed plastic clamp that is used for approximately four to five hours nightly. By squeezing the cartilage, it makes a fold at the position of the missing anthelix. The double adhesive strip is used for around nine hours each day.

Efficacy was measured objectively by thickness and stiffness of the pinna and cephaloauricular distance, and subjectively by the judgement of investigators and parents regarding the shape and grade of the pinnae correction.

Thirty-eight of the 44 children achieved a good to fair correction of their pinnae. All parents were satisfied with the results, with 35 rating the results as fair to good. However, 13 children had slight complications, including temporary skin irritation in 10 and sustained but temporary squeeze marks on the pinnae of three.
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2002;128:12:1369-1376. "Nonsurgical Treatment of Prominent Ears With the Auri Method"

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