Repair of Auricular Malformation Using Three-Dimensional Printing Technology: A Case Report

Objective: To investigate the application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in the auricular reconstruction of congenital microtia. Methods: Eight patients with a congenital unilateral auricle malformation were included in this study. All the cases underwent auricular reconstruction assisted with a 3D printing technology. Before operation, the digital information of the cartilage and the auricle of the contralateral side had been mirror-transformed, and then the ear framework and the auricle model were fabricated with a 3D printing technology. The positions of the incision and the ear framework were estimated according to the size of the model and the auricle position of the contralateral side. Surgeries were performed in two stages with an interval of 9-12 months. The indicators, including the time spent on the ear framework fabrication, patients and their parents satisfaction and the medical expenses were recorded. Results: The time spent on the ear framework fabrication was about 30 to 40 minutes in all eight cases. The total cost of the surgery was about 15,000 yuan. Two weeks after the second-stage operation, the reconstructed ear had a good symmetry with the contralateral ear and the patients and their parents were satisfied with the appearance.