The purpose of this review article is to review the reconstructive method available for the treatment of microtia and highlight the recent advances. The well established technique developed by Brent and Nagata are still must widely performed procedure for microtia reconstruction. Various modification of this technique has been reported in the literature. Synthetic framework is seen as an alternative to autogenous costal cartilage framework because of ease of the procedure. More recently, tissue engineering is seen as the most promising treatment. This article gives an overview of the current practice in the field of microtia reconstruction and summarizes the recent surgical developments and relevant tissue engineering research.

[1] MASTROIACOVO P,CORCHIA C,BOTTO L D,et al.Epidemiology and genetics of microtia-anotia:a registry based study on over one million births[J].J Med Genet,1995,32(6):453-457.
[2] SUUTARLA S,RAUTIO J,RITVANEN A,et al.Microtia in Finland:comparison of characteristics in different populations[J].Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol,2007,71(8):1211-1217.
[3] BEAHM E K,WALTON R L.Auricular reconstruction for microtia: part I.Anatomy,embryology,and clinical evaluation[J].Plast Reconstr Surg,2002,109(7):2473-2482,2482.
[4] TANZER R C.Total reconstruction of the auricle.The evolution of a plan of treatment[J].Plast Reconstr Surg,1971,47(6):523-533.
[5] IM D D,PASKHOVER B,STAFFENBERG D A,et al.Current management of microtia: a national survey[J].Aesthetic Plast Surg,2013,37(2):402-408.
[6] BRENT B.Technical advances in ear reconstruction with autogenous rib cartilage grafts: personal experience with 1200 cases[J].Plast Reconstr Surg,1999,104(2):319-334,35-38.
[7] NAGATA S.A new method of total reconstruction of the auricle for microtia[J].Plast Reconstr Surg,1993,92(2):187-201.[LL]
[8] FIRMIN F.Ear reconstruction in cases of typical microtia.Personal experience based on 352 microtic ear corrections[J].Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg,1998,32(1):35-47.
[9] LONG X,YU N,HUANG J,WANG X.Complication rate of autologous cartilage microtia reconstruction: a systematic review[J].Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open,2013,1(7):e57.
[10] ROMO T,3RD,PRESTI P M,YALAMANCHILI H R.Medpor alternative for microtia repair[J].Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am,2006,14(2):129-136,vi.
[11] CENZI R,FARINA A,ZUCCARINO L,et al.Clinical outcome of 285 Medpor grafts used for craniofacial reconstruction[J].J Craniofac Surg,2005,16(4):526-530.
[12] TANINO R,MIYASAKA M.Reconstruction of microtia using tissue expander[J].Clin Plast Surg,1990,17(2):339-353.
[13] PAN B,JIANG H,GUO D,et al.Microtia: ear reconstruction using tissue expander and autogenous costal cartilage[J].Reconstr Aesthet Surg,2008,61(Suppl 1):S98-103.
[14] JIANG H,PAN B,ZHAO Y,et al.A 2-stage ear reconstruction for microtia[J].Arch Facial Plast Surg,2011,13(3):162-6.
[15] BICHARA D A,O'SULLIVAN N A,POMERANTSEVA I,et al.The tissue-engineered auricle: past,present,and future[J].Tissue Eng Part B Rev,2012,18(1):51-61.
[16] NAYYER L,PATEL K H,ESMAEILI A,et al.Tissue engineering: revolution and challenge in auricular cartilage reconstruction[J].Plast Reconstr Surg,2012,129(5):1123-1137.
[17] LEE S J,BRODA C,ATALA A,et,al.Engineered cartilage covered ear implants for auricular cartilage reconstruction[J].Biomacromolecules,2011,12(2):306-313.
[18] YANAGA H,IMAI K,FUJIMOTO T,et al.Generating ears from cultured autologous auricular chondrocytes by using two-stage implantation in treatment of microtia[J].Plast Reconstr Surg,2009,124(3):817-825.