Auricular injuries-classification and therapy concept

The treatment of traumatic defects of the auricle concerning the exact reco nstruction of details and aesthetic aspects is exacting for the surgeon. To face the expectations towards best trauma care, the different locations an d extent of auricular injuries should be included in the different therapeu tic strategies. The insufficient treatment results in mostly difficult seco ndary conditions. We present a classification for ear traumas, which considers size and locat ion of defects. Depending on this, different techniques and methods of reco nstruction are recommended. Advantages and disadvantages are pointed out an d discussed with several examples and with the present literature.