Microtia Syndrome Treatment in Dallas, TX

Microtia syndrome occurs whenever the outer ear fails to develop normally. This can be alarming for parents; however, seeking treatment at the International Craniofacial Institute in Dallas, Texas can help ease your worries by providing you with cutting-edge care.

What Is Microtia Syndrome?

Microtia syndrome is a congenital condition of the outer ear. It can affect one ear or both ears. In Microtia syndrome, the outer ear doesn’t develop normally. The abnormality can be minor, with the outer ear simply being smaller than normal, or it can be so severe that no outer ear exists at all. Some intermediate cases have a small peanut-shaped outer ear. In many cases, the external ear canal and eardrum do not form normally, resulting in hearing loss.

How Do People Inherit Microtia Syndrome?

In most cases, Microtia syndrome appears to be a random event that occurs during the formation of the baby. In these cases, it is not thought to be genetic at all but rather due to an accident that occurs during early fetal development. However, there are a few family lines that are affected by multiple cases of Microtia syndrome. The inheritance of the condition in these families is unclear because the condition doesn’t seem to have a very high degree of penetrance. This means that many family members may inherit the genetic trait but do not express it, but they can pass the genetic trait on to their children, who may or may not express it. Geneticists estimate that if a couple has a child with Microtia syndrome they have a 5% chance of producing another child affected with Microtia syndrome.

How Common Is Microtia Syndrome?

Microtia syndrome is quite rare. It affects only around one out of every 6,000 to 12,000 births. Bilateral Microtia syndrome is even rarer, affecting only one out of every 25,000 births.

Microtia Syndrome Characteristics

In Grade I cases, the child can hear normally. The outer ear is shaped correctly but is smaller than normal. In Grade II cases, the ear canal is closed or malformed, resulting in some minor hearing loss. The outer ear is deformed and small. In Grade III cases, the ear canal and ear drum are missing, resulting in complete hearing loss. The outer ear is a small peanut-shaped structure. In Grade IV, there is no ear at all, with complete hearing loss. Children affected by Microtia syndrome occasionally have other structural abnormalities of the side of the head affected by Microtia syndrome, but they almost always have normal brain development and intelligence. Other than the hearing loss, the primary consequence of Microtia syndrome is cosmetic in nature.

What Is the Cause of Microtia Syndrome?

The cause of Microtia syndrome is unknown. In some cases, there appears to be a genetic predisposition; in others, it appears to be a completely random event.

Microtia Syndrome Treatment

The only treatment for Microtia syndrome is reconstructive surgery of the ear and ear canal. In most cases, this is a procedure that requires several different surgeries to complete. A graft of cartilage and skin is taken from elsewhere on the body and used to construct an outer ear. Alternatively, an artificial ear and a skin graft can be used to construct an ear. Surgery cannot be performed until the child is at least three (artificial ear) or six (grafted ear) years old. In some cases, surgery can restore hearing by opening the ear canal. An alternative to surgery is a prosthetic ear.

Why Choose International Craniofacial Institute?

The International Craniofacial Institute in Dallas, Texas is a leading institute for the accurate diagnosis and quality treatment of Microtia syndrome and other syndromes and conditions. Our institute was founded in 1971 by Dr. Kenneth Salyer, a surgeon. Today, the institute is organized and led by the director, Dr. David G. Genecov. Dr. Genecov operates the International Craniofacial Institute as one of the nation’s most prestigious centers for palate repair, craniofacial repair, and cleft lip repair.

At our institute, we train doctors and surgeons from all over the world. In addition, our doctors have treated more than 17000 patients. These patients come from the United States, as well as other countries.

To alter and correct craniofacial abnormalities and difficulties, a high skill set is demanded, and we have that here. Our doctors, surgeons and the rest of the staff are extremely knowledgeable and always up to date on the newest methods of diagnosis and treatment. Among all of our employees, we have decades of experience working with different syndromes, including Microtia syndrome.

If you have a child or another family member who is suffering from a genetic syndrome or has a cleft lip, cleft palate, or craniofacial complication, the staff at the International Craniofacial Institute can help. Contact us today to talk with the doctors and staff about your options and how we can help.