Simple Aesthetic Correction for Patients with Acute Auriculocephalic Angle

BACKGROUND Acute auriculocephalic angle refers to an ear with helix that is spaced closely to the cranium. An increasing number of patients with acute auriculocephalic angle wish to undergo corrective operation for aesthetic purposes. However, there is a paucity of data regarding acute auriculocephalic angle. This paper proposes a treatment protocol for patients with acute auriculocephalic angle. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing acute auriculocephalic angle (4 patients, 6 ears). Patient records were reviewed for demographic data as well as auricular measurements at preoperative, immediate postoperative and final follow-up evaluations. RESULTS All of the patients were men with a mean age of 36.5 years (range, 23-52 years). The mean follow-up period was 47.5 months (range, 28-60 months). Postoperative auriculocephalic angle was close to the normal auriculocephalic angle (25°-30°) without notable scars. Moreover, the patients had minimal contractions of the skin flaps without any hematoma or relapse. CONCLUSION We propose the following three treatment protocols for patients with acute auriculocephalic angle: the posterior auricular muscle should be sufficiently released, the mastoid area should be augmented using implants, the skin should be repositioned with a superior auricular flap.