The best age for auricular repair surgery is usually between 5 and 10 years old , depending on the patient's ear development and the specific cause of the disease.
Here are a few key factors:
1. The ear pinna matures
①. The human auricle has grown to 85%-90% of its adult size when the human body is 5 to 6 years old . Surgery at this time will not affect future development and can also achieve a relatively ideal aesthetic effect.
2. Psychological development stage
①. Surgery before or just after the child enters school can help reduce the psychological trauma or ridicule among peers caused by ear deformities, and is beneficial to the child's mental health growth .
3. Etiology-related factors
①. If it is congenital microtia or traumatic auricle defect , the timing of surgery should be decided according to individual circumstances. Some complex auricle reconstruction surgeries (such as rib cartilage transplantation) are recommended to be performed after the age of 8 , because the chest is more fully developed at this time and can provide sufficient autologous cartilage material.
4. Cooperation ability
①. Surgery and postoperative care require a certain degree of cooperation from the patient. Children over 5 years old are usually able to better understand the guidance of doctors and parents , which is conducive to postoperative recovery.