Microtia - My Child Has - Children's Hospital Boston

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Microtia

Microtia

Programs that treat this condition or perform this procedure

Craniofacial Anomalies Program

What is microtia?

Microtia is a congenital condition in which an infant is born without external ears or with severe ear deformity.

Microtia can affect one or both ears.

Unilateral microtia - one ear is affected.
Bilateral microtia - both ears are affected.

The unilateral form is much more common, occurring in approximately 90% of patients.

What causes microtia?

The precise cause is unknown. No known food, medication, or activity during pregnancy can cause microtia.

Microtia is not a genetic condition. In fact, the possibility of passing microtia on to another child is believed to be less than 6 percent.

What kind of problems are associated with microtia?

In addition to the physical characteristics, a child with microtia may have some of these problems:

Hearing loss in the affected ear
Ear infections

How is microtia treated?

Treatment of microtia usually involves reconstructive surgery to rebuild the outer ear. This is a very delicate procedure that requires expertise in both plastic surgery and otolaryngology.

Surgical procedures usually begin around 6 years of age, because the ear is 90% of its adult size, so it is easier to determine the size of the ear that must be made.


					Children's Hospital Boston is the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School

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