The effectiveness of the adipofascial retroauricular flap in otoplasty

Background: Otoplasty techniques using permanent sutures to mold cartilage have high rates of incidence of granulomatous issues (up to 22%) during the postoperative period. In order to control these complications, Horlock et al. developed the adipofascial retroau­ ricular flap in 2001. In the present study, we compared patients who underwent otoplasty with or without the use of this flap. We aimed to quantify the incidence of complications affecting the sutures, evaluate the efficacy of the retroauricular adipofascial flap in the prevention of problems associated with the permanent sutures applied to the auricular cartilage, and analyze if the preparation of this flap increased the rates of other types of complications not related to the sutures, particularly suture dehiscence or defective wound healing during the postoperative period. Methods: We consulted the medical records of 24 patients who underwent otoplasties from 2007 to 2009 at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (Clinics Hospi­ tal of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo). The patients were divided into 2 groups, one where a “classic” technique was used (n = 24 ears) and another where the “flap” technique was used (n = 24 ears). Patients were reviewed in a retrospective manner and had a minimal postoperative period of 24 months. Results: The total incidence of important complications related to the sutures was zero in the “flap” group and 20.8% in the “classic” group. Edema was more pronounced in the first 14 postoperative days, and was identified in 41.6% of patients in the flap group versus 12.5% of the patients in the classic group. The technical steps involved in preparing the adipofascial retroauricular flap did not increase surgical time. It is possible that the retroauricular tissue covering the sutures (which is stronger) and the tissue connecting these sutures (preserved subcutaneous tissues) were the main factors responsible for the significant decrease in granulomatous complications after otoplasties in which the flap was used. Conclusions: After the retroauricular adipofascial flap was introduced, the incidence of complications was reduced to zero, demonstrating the efficacy of this flap in the prevention of complications related to granulomas. This benefit was obtained without an increase in the incidence of other complications or surgical time. This study suggests that the retroauricular adipofascial flap may be an important addendum to the technical tools used during otoplasty.