A novel method to accurately locate the reconstructed auricle

Pathogenic Genes for Congenital Microtia: A Bioinformatics Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to accurately find the pathogenic genes of congenital microtia, so as to lay a theoretical foundation for genetic screening, diagnosis, and gene therapy of congenital microtia in the further stage.

METHODS

In this study, the authors used public data from the Mouse Genome Informatics database. The authors used the String database ( https://string-db.org/ ) to construct the Protein-Protein Interaction network. Then Gene Ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were performed for the pathogenic genes.

RESULTS

The authors searched the Mouse Genome Informatics database and found 84 pathogenic genes of congenital microtia. The Protein-Protein Interaction network for pathogenic genes was constructed, which contained 81 nodes and 148 lines with MCM5, CDT1, POLA1, CDC45, CDC6, EFTUD2, ORC1, ORC4, ORC6, and TCOF1 . The authors conducted a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis on pathogenic genes, and the results showed that pathogenic genes were involved in O-mannan biosynthesis, cell cycle, RNA polymerase, and other signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors' results indicated that the occurrence of congenital microtia is attributed to a variety of genes. Furthermore, the interactions of pathogenic genes were further elucidated by using a bioinformatics approach. This study will help to reveal the pathogenesis of congenital microtia and lay the foundation for accurate diagnosis and treatment of congenital microtia in the future.

A Novel Method for Making an Auricle Framework Like Lego Building Blocks

OBJECTIVES

The traditional Tanzer-Brent method, which uses the integral engraving of costal cartilage, provides insufficient three-dimensional sensation and is characterized by poor firmness of the auricle framework. This tends to cause the absorption deformation of the auricle framework after surgery. In order to reduce the absorption deformation as well as make the reconstructed auricle more three-dimensional and the ear shape more realistic, our ear reconstruction team invented a novel method to make an auricle framework with autologous costal cartilage. The auricle framework made by this novel method has been applied to auricle reconstruction and has achieved excellent surgical results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical data and postoperative data were collected for patients with unilateral microtia who received auricle reconstruction using the novel method of auricle framework construction in Plastic Surgery Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022. The therapeutic effect of this novel method was evaluated by the satisfaction rate of patients and their families and by the prevalence of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients were enrolled in this study. The average age was (10.95 ± 2.97) years old. The mean follow-up time was 24.02 ± 1.52 months. The satisfaction rate of patients and their families was 96.7%. In terms of postoperative complications, two patients had postoperative infection, one patient had framework exposure, no patients had framework absorption and deformation, two patients had postoperative hematoma, and three patients had scar hyperplasia.

CONCLUSION

This novel method of making the auricle framework is more standardized, easier to master for plastic surgeons, and more conducive to the clinical application of plastic surgery. Through this study, we believe that this novel method offers significant therapeutic advantages and can be used as a unified standard for construction of an auricle framework using autologous costal cartilage.