About Microtia & Aural Atresia

What Is Microtia?
The term microtia indicates a small, abnormally shaped orabsent external ear. It can be unilateral (occur on one side only) or bilateral (occur on both sides).

Diagramof Normal External Ear

What is Aural Atresia?
The term aural atresia refers to the absence or incomplete formation of an external ear canal. Microtia is almost always accompaniedby aural atresia. Patients with microtia and aural atresia do nothave normal hearing on that side but may have completely normalhearing in the other ear.

Is Microtia an IsolatedProblem?

Apatient with classic aural atresia. An Earlobe is presentbut is malpositioned. No ear canal is present.

In most patients microtia and aural atresia occur as an isolated condition.In some patients, however, the ear deformity occurs in conjunction with other facial deformities. The most common syndrome in which microtia accompanies other anomalies is called hemifacial microsomia whichis a variable deformity that can involve the ear, the bones of theface, the fullness of the cheek tissue and the function of the facialnerve.

Another syndrome where microtia may be present is Treacher Collinssyndrome. Because of the association with these syndromes, patients with microtia should be seen by a team of specialists and have a genetics evaluation so that the parents can be informed of any increased risk of these syndromes in future children.