Medial conchal excision in otoplasty.

The most common cartilaginous deformities in protruding ears include an inadequate antihelical fold and an enlarged concha. We have employed medial conchal excision to correct deep conchas in 25 patients, all of whom were pleased with the postoperative result. Obvious wrinkling of the anterior skin occurred in four patients, and several patients displayed slight distortion of the helical crus. Medial conchal excision does not impede management of the antihelical fold with mattress sutures or by other means. We consider the risk of minor alterations of the concha justified if even slight distortion of the more conspicuous lateral auricle can be avoided.