Surgical Options Home

Cosmetic Surgery (Microtia Repair)
(Prosthetic, Rib repair, Polyethelene insert)

We have not pursued this area ourselves, but there are three approaches (that we know of) that can be taken.

Here is a link relating to Insurance companies denying coverage based on ear reconstruction being cosmetic rather than medically necessary - Senate Introduction of the Treatment of Children's Deformities Act

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/mediactr/cranio_home.htm � More articles relating to Insurance coverage

Prosthetic - A new prosthetic ear can be molded, and held in place by titanium inserts. Some surgery is required to install the titanium abutments. We have not found much information on this, although I believe any craniofacial team will be able to give you more information. Advantages - relatively minor surgery. Disadvantages - prosthetics may fall off; need multiple prosthetics for different seasons (because of skin tanning); need to replace prosthetics as child grows.

Face Value - http://www.cwru.edu/pubs/cwrumag/summer1999/features/facevalue/

Rib Graft - A piece of Rib cartilage is removed, formed, and then inserted under the skin around the ear. This cartilage serves as a framework for the new ear. Advantages - No foreign materials, and thus the body will not reject it; your own skin covers the new ear. Disadvantages - several surgeries required, incision in the chest to remove cartilage.

You can find more detailed information with the following web sites/contacts:

Dr. Burt Brent, (California)
http://www.earsurgery.com
(650) 851-5300

Dr.Roland Eavey
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Ph. 617-573-3190
E-Mail : Roland_Eavey@meei.harvard.edu
http://www.meei.harvard.edu

Dr.Barry L. Eppley
702 Barnhill Drive
Suite 3540
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5200
Ph. 317-278-0940 (Office)
Ph. 317-278-0939 (Fax)
E-Mail : beppley@iupui.edu
http://www.iuplasticsurgery.com/surgeons/

Dr. Auturo Bonilla (San Antonio, Texas)
http://www.microtia.net

Dr. Edward F. Joganic (Plastic Surgeon, Arizona)
500 W Thomas #960
Phoenix AZ 85013
(602) 266-9066 � Jane Picht, Surgery Coordinator ext. 110

Dr. Jeffery Fearon (Dallas, Texas)
Children's Craniofacial Association
P.O. Box 280297
Dallas, TX 75228
1-800-535-3643

Dr. Mark Mitchell Jones (Atlanta)
Atlanta Plastic Surgery Specialists
http://www.atlantaplastic.com
Suite 630 - 2001 Peachtree RD NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404.355.3566
inquiries@atlantaplastic.com

Dr. Fernando Burstein (Atlanta)
Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial Associates
www.ppsca.com
Suite 500 - 975 Johnson Ferry RD
Atlanta, GA 30342
800.615.1323
404.256.1311
appointments@ppsca.com

Dr. Satoru Nagata, MD, PhD (Japan)
Medical Director
Nagata microtia & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Clinic
22-1 Sasame Minami-Cho
Toda City, Saitama Prefecture 335-0035
Japan
International Telephone:+81-90-9969-8560 (English)
Facsimile: +81-48-449-3029
Domestic Telephone: (048) 449-3030 (Japanese Only)
E-mail Address: NagataS7133@aol.com
http://www20.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/zc4/kic-koba/U-page

Dr. Gordon Wilkes
Misericordia Hospital, COMPRU Team
16940-87 Ave
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada, T5R 4H5
COMPRU E-mail: compru@cha.ab.ca
COMPRU Web Site: http://www.caritas.ab.ca/compru

Dr Francoise Firmin
Clinique Bizet
23, rue Georges Bizet
Paris 75116 France
Telephone : 47237826

Dr. Charles H. Thorne (New York)
http://www.microtia.com
(212) 794-0044

Dr. Fred Aguilar (Texas)
Same office as Dr. Jahrsdoerfer

Dr. Genecov (Dallas, Texas)

Dr. Joganic (AZ)

Dr. David Leber (PA)

Leber, Wolf and Banducci Plastic Surgery

2807 N. Front St.

Harrisburg, PA 17110

717-233-4691

Dr. Kesser, (GA)

Polyethylene Implant

Similar to the Rib Graft with the exception of the Rib. A polyethylene form is made, and used to form the new ear instead of the rib cartilage. Advantages - No incision in chest; polyethylene easier to form. Disadvantages - Multiple surgeries

You can find more detailed information from "Microtia Reconstruction Using a Porous Polyethylene Framework" (download it here in Adobe PDF (4.8MB) or in Word 97 (3MB) format)

Dr. Thomas Romo III
http://www.earreconstruction.com
135 East 74th Street
New York, New York 10028
(212) 288-1500
docromo@aol.com
Anna Lynne Bogner has graciously offered to talk to anyone with questions, albogner@comcast.net. Her son has had the implant procedure done by Dr. Romo.

Dr. John Reinisch (Los Angeles, California)
http://hopeforkids.com/body_reinisch.html
http://hopeforkids.com/body_microtia.html
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
2nd Floor Outpatient Tower
4650 Sunset Blvd., MS #96
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 669-4544
e-mail Cathy at contact@hopeforkids.com

Atresia Repair (and Middle Ear Reconstructive surgery)
(Opening the canals, Middle ear repair)

Again, this is not an area we've researched, but the following sites might be helpful:

Dr. Bradley Kesser
Charlotsville, Virginia
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/people/dop/dopDetail.cfm?drid=1451

Dr Robert A. Jahrsdoerfer, (Otolaryngologist, Virginia, Texas)
http://www.med.virginia.edu/news/Experts/jahrsdoerfer.html
6410 Fannin, Dept of Otolaryngology
Houston TX 77030
P.O. Box 10008
(713) 797-6608
1-800-615-9045

Charlottesville VA 22906-0008
(804) 982-1885
(804) 243-4680 (Northridge office)

UVA 1-800-251-3627 (ask for his office)

Dr. James House, (Jackson, Mississippi)

Dr. Antonio De La Cruz, (House Ear Institute in California)

Dr. Joseph Roberson

California Ear Institute

1900 University Avenue, Suite 101

E. Palo Alto, CA 94303

(650) 494-1000

http://www.calear.com/ (biography at http://calear.com/about/bios.php)

http://www.letthemhear.org/
send initial e-mail for Dr. Roberson to sbyrne@letthemhear.org

Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA� Implant)
(Titanium Abutment Implant, relatively minor surgery, done in one or two stages)

Please visit our Bone Conduction Hearing aid page for more information. This surgery is being done by many Dr�s, too many to keep track of and list here. Check with the Hospital closest to you for Dr�s who have performed this surgery. Usually can be performed on children around 6 years old. However, some Dr�s are more aggressive, and have successfully performed this surgery on children as young as 3.

The two stage procedure is usually performed on younger children, and the one stage procedure for older children/adults. However, some Dr�s are more aggressive and may opt for the one stage even for younger children.

I have listed a few Dr�s that are known to have performed the BAHA� surgery. You can contact your Local Hospital, or Entific to find a Dr. near you.