Background and objective.

Auricular reconstruction has always been a major challenge in the field of Plastic Surgery. Once carving of the cartilage framework is mastered, the key to success relies on adequate treatment of the soft tissue. The goal of this article is to provide tools to perform a correct diagnosis of the microtic remnants in order to choose adequately the type of skin approach for each case.

Methods.

A descriptive study of the surgical technique for the first stage of microtia reconstruction is conducted in which a modification of the classic Nagata classification is presented, correlating each type of remnant with one of the 2 skin incisions we propose which result from a simplification of the 4 types of approaches proposed by Firmin, complemented with a retrospective study of our clinical cases.

Results.

We analyzed 133 cases of reconstructive otoplasty in virginal microtia. It has been concluded that a correct diagnosis based on the classification proposed derives in the best choice of the skin approach for each case.

Conclusions.

An adequate management of skin remnants allows to take maximum advantage of local conditions and provide the best cover for a reconstructed ear, which is the vascularized and supple skin of the microtia and mastoid region, which can never be sacrificed and replaced by a lower quality tissue in order to place an alloplastic material.

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