Neonatal Med.  2017 Aug;24(3):129-133. 10.5385/nm.2017.24.3.129.

Treatment of Auricular Deformities with the EarWell System in Three Newborns

• Kim JH
• Sheen YH
• Kim KE
• Heo JS
• Jeon JH
• Chung SH

• KMID: 2388977
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2017.24.3.129

Abstract

Auricular deformities occur frequently in newborn infants. Typically, most pediatricians explain to parents that these deformities will get better as child grows older. But, only about 30% of auricular deformities are known to be self-correcting, and there is no reliable model to predict them. If ear molding is initiated during the first days of life with the EarWell System, successful treatment could be possible without pain in a non-surgical way. We present 3 cases of auricular deformities treated with the EarWell System. 2 infants were born with auricular deformities at Gangnam Cha Medical Center and 1 infant visited the outpatient clinic for the treatment of auricular deformities. 5 ears in 3 infants underwent ear molding using the EarWell System. They had it placed on the 20th day after birth. Average treatment time was 18.7 days, and all of them were corrected. Complications were redness, oozing, erosion and mild pressure ulcerations. Early recognition and treatment of the auricular deformity ensure the great prospect of success. Also, it is important for both the parents and the pediatricians to know that auricular deformities could be successfully treated with Earwell System.

Keyword

Auricular deformity; Newborn infants; EarWell system

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Child
Congenital Abnormalities*
Ear
Hearing Aids
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn*
Parents
Parturition
Pressure Ulcer