David Gault first published the results of his splintage technique in 1994. Splintage, or neonatal ear moulding, as it is sometimes called, has gathered support from independent sources worldwide as a way of avoiding the psychological problems associated with deformities of the ears and the morbidity and occasionally mortality of surgery to correct them.
“Early splintage of pinna abnormalities in the neonatal period appears a cost effective and simple procedure which should be encouraged”
ENT News
“These deformities can be treated non-surgically in the early neonatal period, effectively, without anaesthetic and with minimal cost.“ “...the need for surgical correction may be largely avoided in the future.”
A splint for correction of congenital ear deformities
Tan, Shibu and Gault, British Journal of Plastic Surgery
“Non-hypoplastic congenital ear deformities are amenable to non-surgical treatment with splinting in the neonatal period”
When do ears become prominent?
Tan and Gault, British Journal of Plastic Surgery
“Ear splintage is an effective technique that should be more frequently offered to parents of affected neonates.”
Splintage for correction of congenital ear deformities
Schonauer, Fera, La Rusca and Molea, Presented at EURAPS Vienna
“According to the parents’ assessment, complete correction or marked improvement occurred in 29 of 35 anomalous ears (83%). All parents felt that auricular moulding was worthwhile.”
Correction of deformational auricular anomalies by moulding - results of a fast-track service.
SweeTan, Anna Wright, Anna Hemphill, Kari Ashton, Joan Evans
Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association,
12-September-2003, Vol 116 No 1181
www.nzma.org.nz/journal/116-1181/ - 19k
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