Cryptotia: principles and management.

Adequate treatment of the cryptotic ear must address both recreation of the upper pole and correction of the vertical height. The degree of soft tissue manipulation ia dictated by the severity of the deformity. Often this must be combined with repositioning or reconstruction of the cartilaginous skeleton.

The constricted ear.

The constricted ear may be described best as a pursestring closure of the ear. The deformity may include lidding of the upper pole with downward folding, protrusion of the concha, decreased vertical height, and low ear position relative to the face. The goals of surgical correction should include obtaining symmetry and correcting the intra-auricular anatomy.