Functional and esthetic reconstruction of microtia and congenital aural atresia: a case report

The following is a case report of an adolescent with mental retardation who had congenital aural atresia with contralateral congenital facial palsy. She developed multiple intracranial complications (cerebellar abscess and lateral sinus thrombosis) due to cholesteatoma. We managed her in a multidisciplinary approach. This report discusses case management, emphasising the meticulous intraoperative steps taken in identifying the landmarks and precautions adopted to avoid postoperative facial palsy and other complications.

Congenital Aural Atresia (CAA) is the failure of development of the external auditory canal. It usually occurs in conjunction with microtia, which is malformation of the auricle due to the failure of development of the external ear. The evaluation and treatment of aural atresia present a number of challenges to the otologic surgeon. Computed tomography also plays a pivotal role in planning the surgery and grading the outcome of the surgery in congenital aural atresia. We report a case of unilateral congenital aural atresia and microtia and did a canalplasty and tympanoplasty in this patient.