Abstract 50

Abstract

Background: Total ear reconstruction for microtia is one of the most challenging procedures for a plastic surgeon and infection of a cartilage graft can jeopardize an outcome. After treating an ear reconstruction case with a patent external auditory canal (EAC) for infection we: 1) compared the incidence of infection with total ear reconstruction (no EAC vs. patent EAC); 2) determined if a protocol designed for reducing bacteria with a patent EAC helped reduce infection.