How do atresia repair surgeries interact with the outer ear microtia surgeries (auricular reconstruction)?
There are two major differing approaches to the outer ear reconstruction. The older technique uses an autologous rib graft. Rib graft auricular reconstruction generally begins around age 6 and requires 3-4 surgical procedures (for unilateral microtia). A newer technique uses porous polyethylene (known as medpor) in place of the rib. Medpor auricular reconstruction takes 2 surgical procedures and can start at age 3.
One very important detail is that with the Medpor approach, the atresia repair is done BEFORE the outer ear surgeries, with the rib graft approach, the atresia repair is done AFTER the outer ear surgeries.
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