ANOTIA
DESCRIBING THE DISEASE AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE EAR
Anotia is a rare congenital anomaly, where the external part of the ear is missing. It is completely non-existent but, sometimes the inner ear can be normal and not affected, doctors have now created procedures that can make a patient suffering from this disease and give them a new 'ear'. The symptoms are present during infancy. This disease causes the ear to not create a pinna, or any part of the external ear. Anotia is almost completely associated with Microtia, even if the symptoms are quite the same, the Microtia still has a pinna and some malformation of an ear, whereas a Anotia disease is completely missing one.
The disease is not necessarily classified as 'common' the disease is known as a 'Rare Disease' as said by the by the office of Rare Disease, which is part of the National Institute of Health. The disease itself starts in the fetal stage of pregnancy. Doctors and scientist have still yet to discover the cause of this rare disease and what things cause the external part of the ear to be non-existent. But to make a story short, signals get mixed and the growth fails to happen. Anotia can affect either both ears or one ear.
Doctors in the 1960's had stop mothers from taking THALIDOMIDE , a sedative, as it was causing and producing more risks of having children with missing limbs and congenital malformations.
The disease is not necessarily classified as 'common' the disease is known as a 'Rare Disease' as said by the by the office of Rare Disease, which is part of the National Institute of Health. The disease itself starts in the fetal stage of pregnancy. Doctors and scientist have still yet to discover the cause of this rare disease and what things cause the external part of the ear to be non-existent. But to make a story short, signals get mixed and the growth fails to happen. Anotia can affect either both ears or one ear.
Doctors in the 1960's had stop mothers from taking THALIDOMIDE , a sedative, as it was causing and producing more risks of having children with missing limbs and congenital malformations.
DESCRIBE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THE DISEASE
A second known treatment requires using a MEDPOR ( Made of Polyethylene Plastic) as an ear framework. This has its advantages as it allows surgeons with not much artistic ability to create an ear, without having the necessity to constantly sculpt the patient's ear for the perfect realistic imitation. The MEDPOR is surgically put to match where the persons real ear was suppose to be. Then using skin from other oblivious parts of the body, that skin is used to cover up the ear structure and sewn back onto the ear. The ear is much tougher then normal ears as it is made of plastic but, other then that it makes up for a good realistic structure.
Another option available for patients is a slip on prosthetic ear, this option is highly chosen by parents whose children suffer from Anotia and other ear related diseases where the ear is missing. This provides a temporary ear and also does not risk any accidents from happening like the other procedures. It requires the patient to slip on the ear without the need of adhesive and other products.
Another option available for patients is a slip on prosthetic ear, this option is highly chosen by parents whose children suffer from Anotia and other ear related diseases where the ear is missing. This provides a temporary ear and also does not risk any accidents from happening like the other procedures. It requires the patient to slip on the ear without the need of adhesive and other products.
Another procedure used for Anotia patients is the reconstructing and creating of an ear made of rib cartilage. Multiply surgeries are required for this procedure. The graft are encouraged to grow on its own and are sculpted by the surgeons, during each surgery, to give it a more realistic look. Below is a more detailed description and images as to how the procedure goes:
Operation time 180 minutes
5-7 days as an in-patient including the admission day
· Cartilage is harvested from the lower ribs (the costal arches of
the ribs).
· The cartilage is sculptured into the shape of an ear using a
template matching the normal ear.
· A pocket is made around the malformed ear, and the sculptured
cartilage is inserted into this space.
· The ear lobe is formed from the original ear.
· A final check of the operated area is done 4-6 days after surgery
to ensure proper healing before being discharged home.
Second operation:
3 months after the first operation
Operation time 90 minutes
3 days as an in-patient including admission day
· Raising of the ear from the skull.
· The back of the ear is covered with a skin graft taken from the hip.
· Discharge home the day after surgery.
· Progress control and suture removal one week after the surgery.
Third Operation:
Operation time 60 minutes
3 days as an in-patient including the admission day
· Spare cartilage is used to fix the ear in its position.
· Minor cosmetic adjustments are made.
· Discharge home the day after surgery.
Operation time 180 minutes
5-7 days as an in-patient including the admission day
· Cartilage is harvested from the lower ribs (the costal arches of
the ribs).
· The cartilage is sculptured into the shape of an ear using a
template matching the normal ear.
· A pocket is made around the malformed ear, and the sculptured
cartilage is inserted into this space.
· The ear lobe is formed from the original ear.
· A final check of the operated area is done 4-6 days after surgery
to ensure proper healing before being discharged home.
Second operation:
3 months after the first operation
Operation time 90 minutes
3 days as an in-patient including admission day
· Raising of the ear from the skull.
· The back of the ear is covered with a skin graft taken from the hip.
· Discharge home the day after surgery.
· Progress control and suture removal one week after the surgery.
Third Operation:
Operation time 60 minutes
3 days as an in-patient including the admission day
· Spare cartilage is used to fix the ear in its position.
· Minor cosmetic adjustments are made.
· Discharge home the day after surgery.
PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE/ POINT OF VIEW
My name is Oliver Blackmore and I was born with the disease Anotia. Right now I am 15 years old and have had a few operations to create new ears. The reason for this was because my parents thought it was a good idea, as they thought that the children at school would accept me better. Basically they thought that getting the procedure would excepmt me from social outcast and bullying at school and in public. I faintly remember not being able to hear when I was little and the surgery started when I was five. There were many trips to the doctors and hospitals and consultations. I endured around three operations, these operations were done to sculpt and attach the outer part of the ear. I was one of the few whose inside of the ear (The organs in the ears) were normal and had nothing wrong with them. This disease is considered rare and I was part of the life changing operation to give myself normal realistic looking ears. Research was conducted during my procedure and is currently used to help other children suffering from this disease.
DOCTOR'S POINT OF VIEW
Hello my name is Doctor Banksia and I was the head surgeon for Oliver Blackmore's surgery ten years ago. Oliver was a patient with a rare disease that the medical world hardly come across. Anotia affects a very small amount of people in the world. This disease is still not known much about and is a very complex procedure. Basically we had to operate on Oliver when he was at a small age, this was because it made sure that he did not have any sudden shock to new hearing and such. So that he could get use to hearing from a young age. First we had to get bits of rib cartilage from his ribs and my team was to sculpt them into the shape of an ear. His operation required three procedures to correct and every six months he was due into surgery to sculpt his new ears. This was done to make it more realistic looking. The second procedure was done to attach the ear. The third prodecure was to enhance the ears and make it as realistic as possible. Now Oliver is living a normal life with his ears and can hear perfectly fine. Sometimes he is due into the hospital for check up. The information from Oliver's procedure will be able to help more children born with this disease like himself and to help future ear surgeons to perform surgery to fix this problem.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mcshn/bd/anotia.htm
http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/a/anotia/intro.htm
http://www.medicalartprosthetics.com/content.php?page=prostheses&sec=auricular
http://thebesthealthy.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/anotia-causes-treatment-and-symptoms.html
http://www.tree.com/health/birth-defects-other-anotia-microtia.aspx
DISCLAIMER !! PATIENT AND DOCTOR ARE COMPLETELY FICTIONAL D:<
http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/a/anotia/intro.htm
http://www.medicalartprosthetics.com/content.php?page=prostheses&sec=auricular
http://thebesthealthy.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/anotia-causes-treatment-and-symptoms.html
http://www.tree.com/health/birth-defects-other-anotia-microtia.aspx
DISCLAIMER !! PATIENT AND DOCTOR ARE COMPLETELY FICTIONAL D:<