Repair of microtia with sculpted rib cartilage grafts in identical, mirror-image twins: a case study.

Abstract

Congenital abnormalities more commonly occur in multiple births-which are on the rise because of assisted reproductive techniques and fertility-stimulating drugs. One-third of twins are identical, and mirror-imaging is not as rare as one might think. It usually goes unnoticed because the differences between them are so subtle-unless they have an obvious congenital deformity. The author presents such a case, in which mirror-image twins were each afflicted with unilateral microtia. His management and repair of their ear deformities is presented herein.