Newborn ears: from bat to worse
Conventional Bat Ear Surgery Can Be Dangerous and Unnecessary, Warns Expert
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London, UK – 18 April, 2005 - Leading Plastic Surgeon David Gault, a world expert on ear reconstruction based at Great Ormond Street, today announced new research into ‘Bat Ear Surgery’, and highlights a new technique called neonatal moulding, using Ear Buddies™, which should render defunct the need for any surgical procedures.
It is estimated that 5% of people have ears which protrude more than 40 degrees from the side of the head when seen from above. But much less extreme protrusions often cause crippling embarrassment, and in a few cases, the problem affects a sufferer’s entire way of life – their choice of hairstyle, jobs and pastimes are influenced by whether or not their “deformity” can remain concealed. About two-thirds of ears which end up prominent are evident at birth, and almost all are amenable to correction without surgery in the first six months of life.
According to David Gault, who specialises in correcting the results of failed surgery;
“Surgery for sticking-out ears, or bat ears, is thought to be a simple op, and often left to junior surgeons. But the risk of complications, which can sometimes result in severe deformities and even loss of an ear, is almost 5% with the most commonly used technique.”
Conventional surgery involves scoring the cartilage, to weaken its ability to hold the ear out from the side of the head. But bleeding can often continue, and the collection of blood beneath the skin can become infected or under so much pressure that the overlying skin simply dies. The NHS’s legal bill to defend claims for compensation is around £10,000 per case, and the cost of settlement is up to £30,000 for ears which have been lost altogether. But in most cases, the operation need not be done at all.
According to David Gault;
“Surgery, the conventional solution, is usually delayed until the age of five at the earliest, since before this, the cartilage framework of the ear is too soft and floppy to hold the stitches. Children commonly suffer years of teasing before the problem is corrected. The good news is that neonatal moulding can help in most cases, by avoiding the need for surgery and solving the problem before the child attends nursery or school.”
A quite shocking parade of ears deformed by Bat Ear Surgery features on the Ear Buddies website, from folds which are ‘ouch’ sharp to ‘telephone’ deformity through to those which look like ‘a crumpled crisp bag’.
Increasingly, Bat Ear Surgery is labelled cosmetic by Health Authorities and placed on the “banned” list, so that the surgery has been pushed into the private sector, where prices start at about £1,500 for surgery under local anaesthetic as a ‘walk-in, walk-out procedure’. But the use of Ear Buddies™ should render the operation unnecessary – and in as little as two weeks of treatment.
David Gault developed the product when his first child was born with a deformed ear. Ear Buddies™ are splints, designed and made specifically to correct the problem. The pressure of the splint on the ear cartilage resets its tendency to make the ears stick out whilst maintaining the proper contours of the rest of the ear. They are widely available to the public and can be fitted by any caregiver.
Ear Buddies™ come with a range of hats and headbands to hide the tiny splints from prying eyes until ear moulding becomes as acceptable as braces on teeth – simply a part of growing up.
ENDS
Designed by David Gault, one of the world's leading experts on the outer ear, Ear Buddies™ can correct simple deformities and pin back prominent ears without surgery, in as little as two weeks. Mr. David Gault can be contacted on 08707 661 066.
Ear Buddies™ are widely available to the public and can be purchased online, or by phone at 0906 802 0197.