About microtia
Microtia means the outer ear is small or not fully formed. It usually affects one side and is often accompanied by a narrowed or absent ear canal (atresia). The inner ear is commonly normal, so hearing on the affected side can often be improved.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is clinical, at birth. Hearing tests and a CT scan of the ear help plan treatment of hearing and timing of reconstruction.
Treatment in China
- Ear reconstruction with rib cartilage, carved into an ear framework and placed under the skin, usually in stages.
- Alternative frameworks for selected patients.
- Hearing solutions, including bone-conduction devices and, in some cases, canal reconstruction, coordinated with ENT specialists.
- Revision surgery for patients who had earlier reconstruction elsewhere.
Why patients choose China
The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital was founded in 1961 by academician Zhang Disheng and is now led by Li Qingfeng. In 2023 the team reported a “spatially induced regeneration” approach that rebuilds ear cartilage using the body’s own regenerative capacity, used in five patients with microtia.
Top hospitals in China for Plastic surgery
Fudan 2023 reputation score · bars are relative to the leader in this specialty.
- 1 Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Shanghai 10.9
- 2 Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing 10.1
- 3 Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University Guangzhou 6.4
- 4 Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 6.1
- 5 Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University Xi’an 5.2
- 6 Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Wuhan 4.8
- 7 Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 2.6
- 8 Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University Chongqing 2.2
- 9 First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 2.1
- 10 Peking University Third Hospital Beijing 1.5
Nominated hospitals (23)
- Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijing
- First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhou
- Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji UniversityShanghai
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou
- First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun
- First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- Shandong Provincial HospitalJinan
- West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengdu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin
- Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai
- Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
- Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital)Beijing
- Zhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalHangzhou
- Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyi
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an
- Fujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin
- Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalNanjing
- Second Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhou
- General Hospital of Northern Theater CommandShenyang
- Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
Hospitals to consider
Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Plastic surgery
- #3 Dentistry and oral surgery
Specialists
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Ear reconstruction for microtia
- Regenerative reconstruction of tissue defects
Frequently asked questions
At what age is ear reconstruction done?
Reconstruction with rib cartilage is usually planned once the child is old enough to provide enough cartilage, often from around school age. The surgeon assesses each child individually.
Can hearing be improved as well?
Many children with microtia also have a narrowed or closed ear canal. Hearing assessment is part of planning, and options such as bone-conduction hearing devices or canal surgery are coordinated with ear, nose and throat specialists.