Guidelines Summary

International Microtia and Atresia Workgroup

Consensus recommendations on the treatment of total congenital aural atresia (CAA), published in 2019 by the International Microtia and Atresia Workgroup (IMAW), include the following^[56]:

Bone-conduction technology for children with bilateral aural atresia is very strongly recommended to support speech and language development
Evaluation of the temporal bones using careful computed tomography (CT) scanning is recommended, as is precise assessment of the type of hearing loss and of preoperative motivation with the softband
To prevent the processor from interfering with microtia reconstruction, a discussion between the otolaryngologist/otologist/pediatric otolaryngologist and microtia surgeon regarding placement of the osseointegrated bone conduction hearing device is strongly recommended
It is recommended that children over age 6 years whose hearing and anatomy support surgical reconstruction (ie, those with normal inner ear function and a Jahrsdoerfer score of 7 or higher) undergo atresia surgery with the understanding that revision surgery may be required if the canal and hearing are compromised by new bone growth during puberty
It is strongly recommended that atresia repair be performed in combination with or subsequent to autologous rib graft microtia repair and prior to porous polyethylene microtia repair

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Media Gallery

Grade III microtia with complete absence (atresia) of the external auditory canal.
Appearance of surgically-corrected microtia with complete atresia of the external ear canal.
Axial CT scan in a patient with congenital aural atresia (CAA). Note the atretic plate just lateral to the ossicles.
Coronal CT scan of left temporal bone in a patient with congenital aural atresia (CAA). Note absence of the ear canal. The atretic plate may be seen just lateral to the ossicles.
Three-dimensional reconstructed CT scan of lateral skull in a child with aural atresia. Note the absence of a bony aperture (external ear canal) on the side of the left temporal bone.
Coronal CT scan of patient with ear canal cholesteatoma (right ear) in the setting of congenital aural stenosis. Note the rounded edges of ear canal bone filled with soft tissue density extending into the middle ear.
Very low tegmen (bone that separates brain from ear) and lack of middle ear aeration make this patient not a candidate for atresia surgery.
Intraoperative photograph of a newly drilled ear canal, middle ear space, and ossicular chain in a patient with congenital aural atresia (CAA).
Intraoperative image of the bony landmarks used to identify the site for drilling the bony canal in a right ear - zygomatic root, glenoid fossa, mastoid tip. Patient in the surgical position.
Intraoperative image of a left ear in the surgical position upon entering the middle ear in the epitympanum. The fused malleus-incus complex can be seen.
Intraoperative image of a right ear with a lateral facial nerve identified in the mastoid segment.
Intraoperative image of the right ear with the fascia graft draped over the ossicular chain
Intraoperative image of a right ear with the skin graft placed in position
Intraoperative image of a right ear meatoplasty.

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Author

Bradley W Kesser, MD Robert W Cantrell Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine

Bradley W Kesser, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons, Triological Society, Virginia Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Received royalty from Nasco, Inc. as an inventor (< $250) for: Nasco, Inc.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA Professor of Otolaryngology, Dentistry, and Engineering, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Cerescan;Cliexa, eMedevents, Neosoma, MI10<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: , Cliexa;;Neosoma<br/> Received stock from RxRevu; Received ownership interest from Cerescan for consulting; for: Neosoma, eMedevents, MI10.

Additional Contributors

Cliff A Megerian, MD, FACS Medical Director of Adult and Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, Director of Otology and Neurotology, University Hospitals of Cleveland; Chairman of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Cliff A Megerian, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Medical Society, Society for Neuroscience, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons, Triological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Matthew Ng, MD Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Medicine

Matthew Ng, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Surgeons, North American Skull Base Society, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Drew M Horlbeck, MD Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Mayo Clinic; Director of Neurotology, Nemours Children's Clinic

Drew M Horlbeck, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, North American Skull Base Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Dr. Robert Jahrsdoerfer for his advice and commentary.

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