The Treatment Effect of Non-Surgical Ear Molding Correction in Children with Mild Cryptotia Deformity.

Abstract

To investigate the treatment effect of non-surgical ear molding correction in children with mild cryptotia deformity. 51 cases were collected from 2016 to 2021. They were divided into four groups (6 months-1 year group, 1-3 years group, 3-6 years group, and ≥6 years group). The effective rate, recurrence rate, complication rate, and treatment duration of non-surgical ear molding correction were analyzed among the four groups. 3 months after the end of corrective treatment, the overall effective rate was 92.2% (47/51), the overall recurrence rate was 7.8% (4/51), and there was statistical significance among the four groups (p = 0.001). The overall complication rate was 2.0% (1/51), and there was no statistical significance among the four groups (p = 1.000). There was statistical significance in the treatment duration among the four groups (p < 0.001), and the mean duration of treatment was positively correlated with the age at treatment (p < 0.001, R = 0.614). We first propose and recommend that the treatment time window for non-surgical ear molding correction be maximally extended to 6 years old in children with mild cryptotia deformity. There is a high success rate of non-surgical ear molding correction in children with mild cryptotia deformity. The complication rate is low. There is a positive correlation between the mean treatment duration and the age at treatment, and the treatment duration increases with the growth of months. 4 Laryngoscope, 133:2122-2128, 2023.