Conchal Bowl and Postauricular Flaps for Reconstruction of the External Auditory Canal

Abstract

Two techniques for reconstructing the external auditory canal are presented; to our knowledge they have not been described previously. The first technique can be used for disease that does not affect the conchal bowl. The canal is reconstructed with an inferiorly based conchal bowl flap. A second inferiorly based postauricular flap, tunneled through the conchal cartilage, resurfaces the conchal bowl. The postauricular defect is closed primarily. The second technique can be used for disease affecting the conchal bowl. A posteriorly based flap that includes skin overlying the mastoid and posterior surface of the pinna is tunneled through the conchal cartilage and resurfaces the conchal bowl and external auditory canal. The defect on the posterior surface of the pinna is closed with tissue advanced from the anterior surface of the pinna at the conchal bowl-antihelical fold junction. The remainder of the retroauricular defect is closed primarily. The advantages of these techniques over current methods are described and illustrative cases presented.