Objective: To describe the novel use of a delayed chondrofascial flap to increase auricular projection in microtia reconstruction.
Methods: Retrospective survey analysis. Ten consecutive children with unilateral microtia without other craniofacial abnormalities were followed up for a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years after microtia reconstruction was performed with the newly described delayed flap. Individual patient reconstructed auricular projection measurements were compared with contralateral (control) auricular projection values.
Results: The auricular projection measurements taken at the superior helix and the lobule approximated those of the control side as confirmed by t test.
Conclusion: The newly described delayed chondrofascial flap buttresses auricular projection in microtia repair to approximate the projection values of the normal side.