Do you have a child that suffers from a birth defect of the ear? If so, you may have have plenty of ear reconstruction questions, especially if you’re exploring that avenue. The good news is that you’re not the only parent that has to face this issue kyu.
Microtia, the most common abnormality of the external ear, occurs with a frequency of one in every five thousand to seven thousand births. The defect occurs most frequently with males and right ears. You should not feel guilty or question your family history, as less than fifteen percent of individuals with microtia have a history of ear abnormalities.
The most common ear reconstruction questions involve the types of surgeries that can fix the birth defect. First, you can choose to take no action. The birth defect is not life threatening. The current standard treatment involves using pieces of rib cartilage that end up getting carved into the shape of an ear and are then attached to the child’s head.
This can require several operations and long term hospital stays. You also have to deal with the risk of the surgery not going as planned. There’s also the option of having a prosthesis attached to your child’s head.
However you need to keep in mind that the prosthetic will need to be replaced every few years and can be costly, requiring payments of thousands of dollars. Though there can be drawbacks for either option, keep in mind that many children experience life success though both of these solutions.
If you’re looking for a surgeon who can help you with your ear reconstruction questions, take the time to find the one who is right for you and you child. There are plenty of reconstructive surgeons available, but make sure you choose one who has a good reputation with children.
Your child is depending on you to find a good doctor, so don’t just pick the first one you see. If you have a friend or a family member who has had reconstructive surgery, ask them to give you a recommendation. Getting referred to a doctor is the best way to walk into a doctor’s office with confidence.
When asking the doctor your ear reconstruction questions, make sure he gives you as much literature about the surgery as possible. You’ll want to read up on the latest trends. He may offer a solution that is outside of the most common treatment.
See if his custom solution works for you. Ask him for examples of previous success stories that have occurred because of his treatment. Keep in mind that any kind of surgery will involve time in the hospital, so if you child is in school, he or she will have to be out of class for a period of time.