Once a child is 10 years old, the ears have stopped growing and the reconstructive surgery can take place. For this first surgery, the child is admitted on the same day as the surgical procedure. Some minor tests may be repeated.

This first surgery will take approximately seven hours in the operating room. Dr. Kasrai and Dr. Fisher will perform the procedure together. This dual-surgeon team will be assisted by a specialized surgical group of other doctors and nurses. During the surgery, a small piece of cartilage is taken from one side of the rib cage and formed into a framework designed specifically to match the childs ear. The cartilage framework is placed under the skin where the ear should be positioned for the best aesthetic results. After the surgery, the child will be admitted to the recovery room and after a brief time, they will be taken back to their bed on the nursing unit. An expert team of pediatric nurses and other health care professionals manages care for all children on this unit, and the physicians will visit daily to monitor the childs progress to address any questions by the family.

Children can expect to stay in the hospital for five to seven days. During this time, there may be some chest discomfort. Children are set up with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) to manage any pain at this time. Dressings will be in place over the ear and over a small area on the chest. The child will also receive antibiotics to prevent infection.

After they are discharged from the hospital, patients will continue to visit Dr. Kasrai and Dr. Fisher in clinic. Over the following two weeks appointments will be set for every 1 to 2 days. Sutures will be taken out at select visits to the clinic. Throughout this period antibiotics will continue to prevent infection. Once all the sutures have been removed, patients are managed at home.

There is no special care required by families once the child is home. The child should refrain from contact sports for about 3 months. This ensures the ribs have a chance to fully heal. Also, patients are advised to make sure they wear a helmet for lighter sports activities, to prevent damage to the ear in case of falls.

In general, there are few complications to consider after this first surgery. In rare cases, wound healing may be slightly delayed. Otherwise, patients are managed by observing the surgical areas for redness or swelling, and ensuring the area stays as clean as possible.

At each clinic visit, Dr. Kasrai and Dr. Fisher will address any concerns by the child and family. They are always available to answer questions and they are committed to ensuring optimum results throughout this first recovery period. The entire health care team works to support the child and family through this important first stage of treatment.