Titanium mesh strut: a novel instrument for firm elevation of the reconstructed auricle.

UNLABELLED: Nagata's two-stage method for ear reconstruction of congenital microtia is widely used. The support materials used for the reconstructed cephaloauricular angle in the second stage have been studied by several surgeons. The cartilage wedge block has been popular for firm elevation of ear reconstruction. However, the costal cartilage harvested from the chest wall might be insufficient or unavailable and the fixed cartilage wedge might be absorbed or slip forward or backward resulting in an unstable cephaloauricular angle. To develop a more perfect strut for the reconstructed ear, we designed a special-shaped titanium mesh apparatus that can be fixed on the mastoid bone and auricular cartilage framework. The mesh is able to achieve firm elevation and stable frontal projection and create a natural appearance to the posterior aspect of the ear. This is due to the superior strength, rigidity, and perfect biocompatibility of the titanium mesh in addition to well-documented clinical safety. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of contents or the online instructions to authors at www.springer.com/00266.