Newborn Ear Deformity and Non-Invasive Ear Molding Correction

ZOU Qirui; REN Yanli; GUO Hao; LI Huiqin; PENG Tan; ZHOU Shangqing; ZHANG Yuanyan; LIU Yonggang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2024.01.018

Abstract：Objective To report incidence of auricular malformation in newborns and correction outcomes and complication,Method Newborns(n=3797,7594 ears)born in Huaibei people's Hospital from January 1,2020 to July 1,2021 were examined,there were 616 newborns(851 auricular)and treatment offered.if auricular malformation was di-agnosed with appropriate treatment indications.The treated newborns(n=119,173 ears)were divided into three groups based on age,i.e.≤7 d(Group 1,125 ears),8-42 d(Group 2,31)and>42 d(Group 3,17 ears),for comparison of treat-ment outcomes and complications.Newborns with mild malformation and those with indications but no treatment due to rejection by guardians were followed up on the phone at 7 d and 14 d.Result Auricular malformation was diagnosed in 616(16.22%)of the 3797 newborns or 851(11.21%)of the 7594 ears examined.Of the newborns with auricular malfor-mation,119(19.32%,851 ears)received non-invasive correction with a rate of success at 20.33%(173/851).Treatment was aborted in 3 ears,of which 2 due to lack of effects,yielding a total rate of effectiveness of 97.11%(168/173).The rate was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3(P<0.01).The rate of complications was highest in Group 3,followed by Group 2 and Group 1(P<0.01).The treatment duration required was also the longest for Group 3,and shortest for Group 1(P<0.01).Conclusion The incidence of auricular malformation in neonates appears to be high and non-invasive ear molding correction can be an effective treatment,which should be performed at the earliest time possible after auricular malformation is detected during newborn ear examination.