The application of the wound protector device “lap-protector” in costal cartilage harvest for auricular reconstruction to improve outcomes

The study presents experience in using a wound protector device named lap-protector during costal cartilage harvest in auricular reconstruction in order to improve outcomes, particularly final scar quality and length. The present study retrospectively comprised fifty-five patients who underwent costal cartilage harvesting for auricular reconstruction were admitted between June to August 2022. The author divided the patients into 2 groups according to whether the lap-protector was used or not: group 1 underwent costal cartilage with the minimal invasive conventional technique by using the lap-protector, while group 2 underwent the same procedure without. Patients were followed-up for a 6-months period. The time of surgery, the amount of blood loss during surgery, postoperative pain, donor-site scar quality and length were recorded and measured for both groups. Twenty-five patients with lap-protector were compared to thirty without. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the demographic of patient characteristics (P > 0.05). The score of pain dropped steadily over the 5 days in both groups, and patients in group 1 reported a lower level of pain in the following days compared with group 2 (P < 0.05), except the fifth day. In those without, the length of the scar on average was 5.43 ± 0.44 cm, which was longer than the average 3.61 ± 0.29 cm in group 1 (P < 0.05). Analysis of VSS results showed a better formation of the scar in the group1 (P < 0.05). The differences in postoperative pain, scar length and quality between the two groups were statistically significant(P < 0.05). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of the operation time and the amount of bleeding during the operation (P > 0.05). The application of lap-protector in costal cartilage harvest can optimize the scar formation and reduce postoperative pain without prolonging the operative time, which is a convenient and effective technique for achieving satisfactory results.