Bat ears

Bat Ears

Bat ears is a a congenital deformity of the ears, resulting in enlarged, protruding ears, that can indeed resemble bat's ears.

There is a tendency for the condition to run in in families, with a slight tendency to be more common in boys than girls.

The outer part of the ear, called the pinna is made up of cartilage and is covered in skin. This pinna's main function is to concentrate sounds that can then be picked up and sent to the brain via the hearing mechanism of the inner ear.

Although larger ears might theoretically convey a slight benefit in picking up sounds, this is no compensation for the sufferer of protruding ears! As it is present in childhood, sufferers experience the cruel comments of other children and soon seek medical help.

Many childrens' ears appear large, because the ear by the age of 3, is 75% the size of an adult ear. By the age of 9 years, the ear is fully grown and therefore does appear to be large when compared to the rest of the child,s body!

Bat ears can be corrected using plastic surgery techniques. The operation is called an otoplasty. Here surgery is performed at the back of the ear so that scarring is not visible. The cartilage of the pinna is thinned or cut close to the skull to allow the ear to be brought backwards. A thin strip of skin is also excised, and because there is now less skin at the back of the ear than the front, when the edges are stitched together, the ear `flap' bends backwards. The more skin that is removed, the more the ear will be pushed backwards towards the side of the scalp. To achieve the desired effect requires great surgical skill and experience.

Sometimes the defect is only present on one side, and then the surgeon has to get the new position of the affected ear exactly correct so that it matches the other `normal' side.

The operation for bat ears can be performed under local or general anaesthetic. Following surgery, dressings are kept on for 10 to 14 days, and the stitches are then removed, with the scar being well hidden in the crease between the ear and the scalp.

Further information can be found at: British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aeathetic Surgeons http://www.bapras.org.uk
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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