Satisfaction After Patient-Specific Molding of Congenital Auricular Deformations

This study assesses the effectiveness of ear molding in treating congenital auricular deformities and explores factors influencing treatment outcomes and immediate and long-term parental and surgeon satisfaction.Infants with auricular deformities who received ear molding treatment between January 2017 and October 2022 were included.Immediate post-treatment satisfaction was evaluated using a Likert 5-scale questionnaire.A follow-up assessment using the same scale was conducted in January and February 2023 to gauge long-term parental satisfaction.Data analysis includes correlations between factors including age, gender, deformity type, splint use, and treatment duration with treatment outcomes.Immediate post-treatment satisfaction revealed significant associations between younger age at treatment initiation, male gender, and higher parental satisfaction.Long-term follow-up indicated that most parents considered the procedure worthwhile.Lop ear deformity showed a significant association with better immediate and long-term outcomes in comparison to Stahl and prominent ears.Parental satisfaction remained high in the long term, suggesting that ear molding may reduce the need for future surgical interventions.This study supports that using a patient-specific molds is a cost-effective and non-invasive treatment option for congenital ear anomalies, potentially reducing the need for surgical intervention.