ear, nose, and throat disorders
Developmental Abnormalities of the Outer Ear
Microtia
Microtia is a developmental abnormality in which the external part of the ear (the Outer Ear has not fully developed. There are varying degrees of microtia depending on how well developed the auricle is. The degree of auricle development can range from simply a small ear that has all the proper cartilage (grade I) to a small "nubbin" or "peanut" ear that has little or no cartilage and only a mound of skin and soft tissue (grade III). Rarely, people are born without an auricle, a condition called anotia. A plastic surgeon skilled in microtia repair can often rebuild the auricle to a very favorable appearance using a prosthesis, the person's own rib cartilage, or an implant made of a porous plastic material. 