Outcomes of Direct Electrocautery Cutting in Auricular Concha Reconstruction

SI Shurui; PIAO Junhui; JIN Xianghua; CUI Zhezhu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2025.06.012

Abstract：Objective To report clinical outcomes of auricular concha reconstruction during mastoidectomy using direct electrocautery cutting,focusing on the shape and size of the external auditory canal.Methods Forty-five patients(45 ears)underwent open radical mastoidectomy at the Department of Otolaryngology,Yanbian University Hospital,during which the auricular concha was reshaped using electrocautery cutting techniques.Vertical(D1)and horizontal(D2)diameters of the external ear canal were measured at completion of surgery,2 weeks,1 and 6 months post-operation,together with calculation of the cross-sectional area(S=1/4πD1×D2).Time to dry ear and surgical cavity epithelialization was recorded,as well as the shape of the external ear canal at 6 months post-operation.Results Postoperative time to dry ear was 28-52(33.39±2.76)days.Time to complete cavity epithelialization was 30-58(38.33±1.98)days.At 6 months after the operation,the shape of the external ear meatal opening was round(vertical-horizontal diameter differential<2 mm)in 43 ears(95％)and oval(vertical and horizontal diameter differential>2 mm)in 2 eras(5％),with no irregularity.The cross-sectional area of the external ear canal was measured at(2.76±0.42)cm2 at operation completion and at 2 weeks,(2.67±0.41)cm2 at 1 month,and(2.63±0.40)cm2 at 6 months after operation,respectively(P>0.05).Conclusion Direct electrocautery cutting can be used as a simple and easy technique to reshape the concha during radical mastoidectomy to achieve an external auditory canal opening of adequate size and shape that is resistant to post-operative constriction,to ensure sufficient ventilation of the surgical cavity.