Significant increased quality of life of atresia patients using plastic and audiological rehabilitation

Introduction Patients with auricular atresia suffer from an aesthetic impairment due to the microtia, as well as from a functional hearing loss in the form of conductive or combined hearing loss. For aesthetic rehabilitation, auricular reconstruction in Lübeck is usually performed with autologous rib cartilage. Audiological rehabilitation can be performed with partially implantable passive hearing systems or active transcutaneous bone conduction systems, such as the Bonebridge (BB) and the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) middle ear implant.

Methods We present 19 patients with microtia of varying degrees of severity who were surgically treated using BB or VSB and auricular reconstruction. Auricular reconstruction was traditionally performed using autologous rib cartilage, and 3 patients were treated with epitheses. Audiological data were evaluated and quality of life was assessed using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory for Children (GBCI), particularly with regard to aesthetic benefit.

Results Plastic aesthetic rehabilitation using autologous rib graft showed significantly higher quality of life compared to aesthetically unprovided microtia (p<0.05). In addition, we obtained significant functional hearing gain after BB or VSB implantation (p<0.05) and significant improvement in speech understanding in quiet and noise (p<0.05), with no significant differences in stapes or round window coupling after VSB implantation.

Conclusion The combination of aesthetic and functional rehabilitation leads to a significant increase in the quality of life of atresia patients.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023