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My child has protruding ears!
Protruding ears are a frequent anomaly in children but without functional repercussions. This anatomical peculiarity results either from a defect in plication of the reliefs (generally from the plication of the anthelix), and / or from a valgus of the concha (too great angulation between the pinna and the skull) and / or ‘hypertrophy (excessive size) of the conch. In the presence of a plication defect of the anthelix which is less hemmed, the ear is detached and it also appears larger.
What are the causes of protruding ears?
On an antenatal ultrasound, the specialist checks that the fetal ears are present and formed. This anomaly can be familial. A child may be more likely to have protruding ears if one of their parents is concerned, but this is impossible to predict. It also happens that this characteristic occurs in a child who has no family history.
Protruding ears, what to do?
If your baby has protruding ears, there is no miracle cure for this phenomenon. Headbands, bandages on the ears are of no use. In addition, the position during sleep does not affect the shape of the ear. Just because you lay your child on their side doesn’t mean their ears will stick together. The only solution is surgery. But later !
A source of complexes
Children with protruding ears are often the targets of teasing, which can create real complexes for them. In general, it is when entering CP that the little ones become aware of this peculiarity and start to complain about it. Boys may be more concerned as they usually have short hair and cannot hide the protruding ears. Usually around 10 years old the ears are almost the size of an adult. They often seem very large compared to the rest of the face because the latter has not yet finished its growth (only at the end of puberty), and all the more so if they are detached. For the record, aesthetic standards are very different from one country to another. For example, in Chinese belief, people who have large ears live longer and are well blessed. In fact, operations are rarer.
Ear surgery: otoplasty
The intervention to reattach the ears, called otoplasty, can be performed when the child is asking, usually from 6-7 years old. It is better to avoid the period of puberty during which hormonal upheavals can interfere with healing. In all cases, the operation request must really come from the child and not from the parents. An intervention should not be scheduled if the child is not ready. He must be very motivated because, like all surgical procedures, there are constraints in the postoperative period. In practice, otoplasty is most often performed on both ears. It can be considered with three types of anesthesia:
local, local associated with tranquilizers administered intravenously and systemically. For children the operation is performed under general anesthesia. In this case, two preoperative consultations (with the surgeon and with the anesthesiologist) should be planned. The intervention time lasts between 1 and 2 hours. Hospitalization is most often carried out on an outpatient basis. The child can go out the same day. Note: otoplasty is a surgical act supported by social security quite easily.
Otoplasty: postoperative treatment
A period of one to two months is necessary to assess the final result but the ear reattachment is visible when the first dressing is repaired despite the bruises (blue) and edema (swelling) which will last for a few days. The pain is generally moderate and is alleviated by analgesics given systematically. The dressing made in the operating room is removed between the 1st day and the 5th postoperative day. Beyond that, it will be replaced by another lighter bandage that the child will have to wear for 15 days night and day and then only at night for another 2 weeks. This bandage protects the ears from possible trauma and keeps the ears in the correct position. Sport is prohibited during the month following the intervention. Like any surgery, otoplasty has complications: hematoma, infection, healing abnormalities and skin necrosis (very rare). For this reason, several post-operative visits are scheduled with the surgeon. All in all, one should not overestimate the complications, but simply be aware that a surgical intervention, even seemingly simple, always carries a small part of risk. There is a risk of recurrence, the ear can take off again, at least partially. A touch-up is always possible.