A Novel Surgical Method Using Two Triangular Flaps for Accessory Tragus

Article information

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Accessory tragus is an abnormal ear structure that has the shape of a nodule or a papule [1]. It is generally found right in front of the normal tragus or the crus of the helix. It could be unilateral or bilateral, and may occur with or without a stalk [2]. Histologically, it mostly consists of mature adipose tissue, with sebaceous glands that exist along with eccrine glands and hair follicles, and an elastic cartilage is located at the center [3,4]. In general, it does not cause any other accompanying malformation and is mostly a minor congenital malformation. Procedures are performed for resolving aesthetic issues, and pediatric patients are brought to the hospital by their parents.

Various terms are used by physicians to describe an accessory tragus, including supernumerary pinna, supernumerary tragus, rudimentary ear, skin papillus, polyotia, accessory external ear, heterotopic tragus, accessory auricle, and preauricular ear tag, thus creating confusion about the term [5,6]. However, since the tragus originates from the first branchial arch, supernumerary tragus or heterotopic tragus is the most accurate term from an embryological aspect [5].

The operation is simple; hence, there is no severe difficulty in performing the procedure or dissent regarding the procedure. In general, an elliptical incision is made around the lesion and the underlying cartilage is removed [1]. The important part of the operation is the removal of the cartilage, because the removal of the base of a deep-seated cartilage may lead to the formation of a depression or a dimple in the incision area. Further, shaving the cartilage roughly or leaving behind some of the cartilage may cause wound problems such as chondritis or chondrodermatitis [1].

In this study, the surgery was performed by using triangular flaps to widen the operative view without extending the length of the incision, while preventing the formation of a skin dimple or depression below the incision. The specific surgical procedure and the results are discussed accordingly.

METHODS

Our institutional review board approved this study. Eight patients were enrolled between March 2014 and December 2015 on the basis of a retrospective chart review.

Surgical procedure

In adult patients, the surgery was performed under local anesthesia, and in pediatric patients, it was performed under general anesthesia. A cross was drawn from the accessory tragus using two lines with a large diameter; these lines were quartered to create four triangular flaps (Fig. 1A). After the incision, the flaps were lifted, and the two flaps facing each other were excised (Fig. 1B and 1C). The adipose tissue in the subcutis of the skin flap was sufficiently thick to prevent any circulatory problems in the skin flaps. Once the skin hook was positioned on both flaps when the flaps were lifted, the cartilaginous tissue inside became visible. It was removed up to the base by shaving so that the remaining part was smooth and had no sharp edges. Then, the two remaining triangular flaps were crossed over and sutured, and the skin margin of the flaps was trimmed (Fig. 1D).

Fig. 1.

Surgical technique. (A) A cross was drawn from the accessory tragus using two lines with a large diameter; these lines were quartered to create four triangular flaps. (B,C) After the incision, thick flaps were lifted, and the two facing flaps out of the four triangular flaps were excised. (D) The cartilage tissue was removed from the center to the base; the two remaining triangular flaps were crossed over to close the opening, and the remaining skin margin was trimmed.

In case of an accessory tragus with an existing stalk, the part after the stalk was removed first, and the stalk part was designed as mentioned above. Then, the operation was performed.

RESULTS

Eight patients underwent the operation (Fig. 2). The patient group included three adults and five children, with an average age of 20 years, and the age range was from 24 months to 59 years. The average follow-up period was 6.3 months. There was no case of bilateral accessory tragus, but all cases had unilateral accessory tragus, and two out of the eight patients had multiple accessory tragi, with two accessory tragi on one side. No accompanying congenital anomaly was detected, and no familial type was observed. A stalk was present in one patient (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2.

A 53-year-old female patient: after the operation, the triangular flap was lifted from the skin tissue on the accessory tragus and coverage was achieved.

Fig. 3.

An 8-year-old female patient with an accessory tragus with a stalk: The stalk was removed and the triangular flap was created with the remaining part.

After the surgery, no operation-related wound problems, such as necrosis, wound disruption, hematoma, and infection, occurred, and none of the patients complained of chondrodermatitis up to 6 months after the operation. Externally, no depression or dimple was observed during the 6-month follow-up period, and the z-shaped scar that was formed by the crossing over of the triangular flaps was not as visible as a linear scar (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4.

Postoperative results. No surgery-related wound problems, such as necrosis, wound disruption, hematoma, and infection, were observed in the flap after the operation, and the z-shaped scar, which is formed as the triangular flaps cross over, was less visible than the linear scar.

DISCUSSION

The congenital condition of accessory tragus was reported in 1858 by Birkett [7]. Its prevalence rate in unilateral cases is 1.7:1,000 and in bilateral cases is 9–10:10,000 [8]. It is a very rare disease with a lower prevalence rate than the prevalence rate of 1.9–2.2:1,000 for cleft lip and palate [9]. Accessory tragus is usually 3 to 10 mm in size, appearing in the shape of a nodule or a papule, and mostly requires treatment for aesthetic reasons.

Since the procedure is simple and there is no objection to it, there are almost no reports on the technical aspects of this operation in the literature. However, the existing method, which consists of an elliptical incision, cartilage shaving, and closure, leaves a conspicuous linear scar in the incision area and may cause a dimple or depression, while unsmooth shaving of the cartilage may continuously cause chondrodermatitis.

The operative design in this study includes the utilization of the skin over the accessory tragus as flaps. Less tissue is wasted than with the use of the elliptical design, and the incision is shorter (Fig. 5). Further, securing a view through the triangular flaps is easier, and access to the deep base attachment of the cartilage is also easy. As the triangular flaps are closed in a crossover manner, the possibility of developing a depression or of the dimpling of the scar is reduced. As previously mentioned, the cartilage should be completely removed or smoothly shaven to prevent the development of chondrodermatitis in the future, and since the triangular skin flap cross-covers the cartilage, it provides a favorable point from this perspective as well.

Fig. 5.

The operation design (B) in this study utilizes the skin over the accessory tragus as the flap. A smaller volume of tissue is wasted than with use of the elliptical design (A), and the incision is shorter.

Before performing a surgical treatment of an accessory tragus, any accompanying congenital anomaly should be identified. Embryologically, the auricular region is formed from the first and the second branchial arches, and the six hillocks of His (mesenchymal tubercles) are formed from these two arches at the end of the fifth week of embryonic life; they combine to form the entire auricular structure [10-12]. Among them, the first hillock forms the tragus, and a problem is suspected in this process when an accessory tragus develops; therefore, verification of any malformation related to the first and the second branchial arches is required.

Syndromic malformations related to the first and the second branchial arches include accessory tragus, along with epibulbar dermoid cyst, oculo-auriculo-vertebral syndrome (Goldenhar syndrome) that has defects in the vertebral column, and hemifacial macrosomia that is frequently accompanied with an auricular defect [13]. Although very rare, mandibulofacial dysostosis (Treacher Collins syndrome), Townes–Brocks syndrome, VACTERL syndrome, and 4p syndrome (Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome) might be accompanied by accessory tragus [14]. Further, an increased possibility of problems in auditory perception among pediatric patients with accessory tragus has been reported; hence, a hearing test should be performed in all patients [2].

In conclusion, accessory tragus is a minor congenital malformation, and if it is corrected using the triangular flap design introduced in this study, a wider view with a smaller incision could be obtained, the formation of dimples and depression after the operation could be prevented, and a less visible scar would be left.

Article information Continued