Prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with partial ear amputation using a self suspension technique.

Abstract

Partial ear amputations are one of the forms of ear loss. A user-friendly design of prosthesis with safe suspension and an aesthetic appearance can be helpful to a patient who has lost part of their ear due to congenital absence or trauma. Prosthetic use has social and psychological effects on the patient and their family. The aim of this paper is to describe a technique of ear prosthesis fabrication with self suspension for these patients. To provide a snugly fitting prosthesis, the only parts of the residual ear that were covered by the prosthesis were accurately manufactured and reduced in thickness to 0.5-1 mm and 10 mm in width, so that the silicone extended over the stumps to provide adequate suspension. This paper proposes the designing and constructing of a silicone ear prosthesis which had good suspension, low cost, was easy to use and was acceptable in appearance to the patient.