Cryptotia Explained

Cryptotia
Synonyms:	Familial cryptotia^[1]

Cryptotia is the condition where an ear appears to have its upper portion buried underneath the side of the head. The condition also involves underdeveloped scapha and antihelical crura. Cryptotia is also known as buried ear or hidden ear.^[2]

Signs and symptoms

The invagination of the upper portion of the auricle beneath the auricular cartilage deformity is one of the most prevalent characteristics of cryptotia.^[3]

Diagnosis

Based on the kind of antihelix deformity and the condition of the intrinsic auricular muscle, there are two types of cryptotia. Type I cryptotia is characterized by compression of the antihelix's body and superior crus, burying the upper portion beneath the skin. The inferior crus of the antihelix is severely bent over in type II cryptotia, and the antihelix's body has contracted grossly.^[3]

Treatment

Cryptotia is often treated through surgery which involves releasing the ear from its buried position, reshaping the cartilage and using local tissue to resurface the released cartilage.^[4]

Epidemiology

Cryptotia is common amongst Asians but rare in Europeans.^[5] Based on studies the incident of cryptotia in Japan is about 1 in every 400 births.^[6]

See also

• Otoplasty
• Ear shaping
• Otolaryngology

Further reading

• Paredes . Alfredo A . Williams . J.Kerwin . Elsahy . Nabil I . Cryptotia: principles and management . Clinics in Plastic Surgery . Elsevier BV . 29 . 2 . 2002 . 0094-1298 . 10.1016/s0094-1298(01)00007-4 . 317–326 . 12120686 . none.
• Chia . Hui-Ling . Sim . Nadia . Non-surgical correction of cryptotia . Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery . Elsevier BV . 74 . 2 . 2021 . 1748-6815 . 10.1016/j.bjps.2020.08.133 . 377–381 . 33071167 . 224781691 . none.

External links

• The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• KidsHealth

Notes and References

1. Web site: OMIM Entry - 123557 - CRYPTOTIA, FAMILIAL . omim.org . 30 March 2019.
2. Web site: Cryptotia . Bray, David Jr. . December 28, 2011.
3. Hirose . Takeshi . Tomono . Tokio . Matsuo . Kiyoshi . Katohda . Susumu . Takahashi . Nobuyuki . Iwasaw . Motonao . Satoh . Reiko . Cryptotia: our classification and treatment . British Journal of Plastic Surgery . Elsevier BV . 38 . 3 . 1985 . 0007-1226 . 10.1016/0007-1226(85)90241-3 . 352–360. 4016423 .
4. Web site: Cryptotia . University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Medicine . December 28, 2011 . April 7, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120407122112/http://www.med.unc.edu/plastic/ptinfo/pediatric-plastic-and-craniofacial-surgery/cryptotia . dead .
5. Kim . Seok-Kwun . Yoon . Chung-Min . Kim . Myung-Hoon . Kim . Min-Su . Lee . Keun-Cheol . Considerations for the Management of Cryptotia Based on the Experience of 34 Patients . Archives of Plastic Surgery . Georg Thieme Verlag KG . 39 . 6 . 2012 . 2234-6163 . 10.5999/aps.2012.39.6.601 . 601–605. 23233884 .
6. OHMORI . SEIICHI . MATSUMOTO . KOREAKI . Treatment of Cryptotia, Using Teflon String . Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery . Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) . 49 . 1 . 1972 . 0032-1052 . 10.1097/00006534-197201000-00006 . 33–37. 4550069 . 33854591 .