TRIANGULAR FLAP REPAIR OF THE CONGENITAL EARLOBE CLEFT

Repair of a congenital earlobe cleft was performed on 16 patients usin g a new surgical technique derived from the Tennison-Randall triangula r flap operation for cheiloplasty. There were no complications. This m ethod was applied because the deformities and desired outcomes in the congenital earlobe cleft are similar to those of the cleft lip. Many p apers have described surgery for congenital and acquired clefts; the f ormer differs from the latter in some respects. The techniques describ ed for the repair of acquired clefts are not always appropriate for co ngenital clefts. In addition, some operations specifically designed fo r congenital clefts require more complicated techniques. Using our tec hnique to correct lobule deformities with a triangular flap in proport ion to the angle and extent of the cleft, a superior cosmetic result w as obtained in the repair of longitudinal earlobe clefts.