Ann Rehabil Med.  2017 Feb;41(1):138-147. 10.5535/arm.2017.41.1.138.

Effectiveness of Ear Splint Therapy for Ear Deformities

• Woo JE
• Park YH
• Park EJ
• Park KY
• Kim SH
• Yim SY

• KMID: 2383688
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2017.41.1.138

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To present our experience with ear splint therapy for babies with ear deformities, and thereby demonstrate that this therapy is an effective and safe intervention without significant complications.
METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 54 babies (35 boys and 19 girls; 80 ears; age ≤3 months) with ear deformities who had received ear splint therapy at the Center for Torticollis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ajou University Hospital between December 2014 and February 2016. Before the initiation of ear splint therapy, ear deformities were classified with reference to the standard terminology. We compared the severity of ear deformity before and after ear splint therapy by using the physician's ratings. We also compared the physician's ratings and the caregiver's ratings on completion of ear splint therapy.
RESULTS
Among these 54 babies, 41 children (58 ears, 72.5%) completed the ear splint therapy. The mean age at initiation of therapy was 52.91±18.26 days and the treatment duration was 44.27±32.06 days. Satyr ear, forward-facing ear lobe, Darwinian notch, overfolded ear, and cupped ear were the five most common ear deformities. At the completion of therapy, the final physician's ratings of ear deformities were significantly improved compared to the initial ratings (8.28±1.44 vs. 2.51±0.92; p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the physician's ratings and the caregiver's ratings at the completion of ear splint therapy (8.28±1.44 vs. 8.0±1.61; p=0.297).
CONCLUSION
We demonstrated that ear splint therapy significantly improved ear deformities in babies, as measured by quantitative rating scales. Ear splint therapy is an effective and safe intervention for babies with ear deformities.

Keyword

Ear auricle; External ear; Congenital abnormalities; Splints; Infant

MeSH Terms

Child
Congenital Abnormalities*
Ear Auricle
Ear*
Ear, External
Female
Humans
Infant
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
Retrospective Studies
Splints*
Torticollis
Weights and Measures

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flowchart of subject enrollment.

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  Fig. 2 Example of ear splint therapy. (A) A 2-month-old girl with right Stahl's ear. (B, C) A 1-month-old boy with left Satyr and right lop ear. Before treatment (left in each row), attached splint (center in each row), and after treatment (right in each row).

• 

  Fig. 3 Effectiveness of ear splint therapy. (A) The distributions of the severity of ear deformity by using the physician's rating were significantly improved. The initial physician's ratings were severe to moderate, and the final physician's ratings were significantly improved to moderate, minimal, and normal. (B) Physician's ratings at the completion of ear splint therapy were significantly improved compared to the initial physician's ratings. (C) There was no significant difference between the physician's ratings and the caregiver's ratings of the severity of ear deformities at the completion of ear splint therapy. (D) Although all five ear deformities showed significant improvement with ear splint therapy between the initial and final physician's ratings, there was no significant difference in improvement among the five ear deformities.

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