Rigid Contouring Mold Corrects Infant Ear Deformities

A nonsurgical device safely and effectively corrects newborn ear deformities in just two weeks, a drastically shorter period of time than previously reported.

The EarWell Infant Ear Correction System is a rigid plastic mold that can be used to reshape deformed ears by softening the curves and re-contouring the cartilage when applied within the first few weeks of an infant’s life, since they are born with high levels of estrogen in their bloodstreams. This elevated estrogen increases the ear cartilage’s plasticity, allowing the ear to be molded into the correct position. The pain-free and noninvasive procedure can effectively transform ear shape in 14 days, with a 96% success rate.

Once estrogen levels return to normal (when the infants are about six weeks old) using nonsurgical means to fix deformities becomes less reliable, resulting in infants with ear abnormalities having to undergo otoplasty later in life, after years of emotional trauma. While many children do have the surgery, it comes with pain and some risk, including infection, hematoma, and anesthesia-related complications. The EarWell Infant Ear Correction System is a product of Becon Medical (Naperville, IL, USA).

A study conducted by researchers at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP; NY, USA) showed that the process was nearly fail-proof, and attributed these outcomes to the young age at which they initiated intervention, which also shortened the time needed to just two weeks, compared to the six to eight weeks historically advised. The study, which involved 158 ears in 96 patients, was published in the March 2015 issue of the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

“The EarWell is a little cradle that holds the ear in the perfect position so the parents do not have to do anything. They just leave it on and do not even have to think about it. It applies pressure to the ear to conform to a more natural anatomy 24/7,” said lead author clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery Melissa Doft, MD. “The device is perforated, so the babies can hear perfectly fine. You can breast-feed with it. The only limitation is that you need to try not to get it wet because of the adhesive that sticks onto the baby’s skin. Otherwise, you just treat it as if the baby is wearing little earmuffs.”

Fifteen to twenty percent of all children are born with an ear deformity, which includes constriction, a missing fold, a deep conchal bowl, or an obtuse angle. Of these deformities, 30% are expected to self-correct, but there is no scientifically assured way to know which ones will actually do so.

Related Links:
Becon Medical
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center