{"id":170667,"date":"2025-05-23T08:14:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T14:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tecscience.tec.mx\/en\/?post_type=sciencecommunication&p=170667"},"modified":"2025-08-11T11:40:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T17:40:14","slug":"pediatric-microtia","status":"publish","type":"sciencecommunication","link":"https:\/\/tecscience.tec.mx\/en\/science-communication\/pediatric-microtia\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Ear Doesn\u2019t Form: The Cutting Edge of Tissue Reconstruction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Karla Arias L\u00f3pez Arriaga \/ Ciencia Amateur<\/strong>
Reviewed by Mar\u00eda Cristina Velasquillo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outer ear, or auricle, often goes unnoticed\u2014until it\u2019s missing or malformed. That\u2019s the case with microtia<\/strong>, a condition in which the ear fails to fully develop during pregnancy. It may be absent or appear as a small, underdeveloped outer ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the lower part of the ear forms, but the upper section is missing. In other cases, there\u2019s only a small bump of skin where the ear should be. The most severe form is anotia<\/strong>, in which the auricle is absent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 1978 and 2010, the prevalence of microtia in Mexico was 7.37 cases per 10,000 newborns\u2014higher than in the United States and many European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up without an outer ear can affect both body image and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emotional challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Psychological studies have examined rates of depression, hostility, social withdrawal, and aggression among people with microtia. About 20% of patients show symptoms of depression, and 36% experience social difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some research suggests that children aged 7 to 9 with microtia report higher levels of anxiety and depression than those aged 3 to 6. However, after receiving medical treatment, both groups show significant improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors and engineers have been working to better understand the tissue structure and mechanical properties of the ear\u2019s building material: auricular cartilage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micro-indentation: a novel mechanical test<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One emerging approach is micro-indentation<\/strong>\u2014a mechanical test that measures how soft or firm a material is. In the case of the ear, it\u2019s used to assess how auricular cartilage responds to stretching or compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The device applies vertical pressure with a tiny tip to measure the force required to deform or break the cartilage. Think of it like pressing your finger into a pillow to see how soft or firm it is\u2014only here, the \u201cpillow\u201d is ear cartilage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\r\n \r\n \"\"\r\n <\/picture>
Micro-indentation reveals the elasticity of auricular cartilage. Photo from Microtia\u2013Atresia: Clinical, Genetic, and Genomic Aspects<\/a><\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once that\u2019s understood, it\u2019s worth noting that this mechanical test offers major advantages\u2014despite being performed with a microscopic tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One key feature is that it can be applied to materials with irregular shapes, requiring only about 8 mm\u00b2 of auricular cartilage\u2014far less than other devices, which demand larger samples. It also works without any special tissue preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auricular prostheses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Knowing the varying stiffness levels in different parts of the outer ear helps in designing realistic, customized auricular prostheses for children, ensuring they meet specific structural and size parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These measurements are also critical for creating three-dimensional, cell-based ear structures. While these may not yet function like a natural auricle, the technique can improve quality of life for children living with microtia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. S\u00e1nchez O, M\u00e9ndez JR, G\u00f3mez E, Guerra D. Estudio cl\u00ednico epidemiol\u00f3gico de la microtia [Clinico-epidemiologic study of microtia]<\/a>. Invest Clin. 1997 Dec;38(4):203-17. Spanish. PMID: 9527388. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Du, J., Jia-Ke, C., Zhuang, H., Guo, W., Yan, W., & Liu, G. (2008). An investigation of psychological profiles and risk factors in congenital microtia patients<\/a>. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS, 61 Suppl 1, S37-43<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Andrews, J., Kopacz, A. A., & Hohman, M. H. (2024, March). Ear Microtia<\/a>. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Aguinaga-R\u00edos, M., Fr\u00edas, S., Arenas-Aranda, D. J., & Mor\u00e1n-Barroso, V. F. (2014). Microtia-atresia: Clinical, genetic and genomic aspects<\/a>. Bolet\u00edn M\u00e9dico del Hospital Infantil de M\u00e9xico, 71(6), 387\u2013395.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Johns, A., Lucash, R., Im, D., & Lewin, S. (2015). Pre and post-operative psychological functioning in younger and older children with microtia<\/a>. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS, 68 4, 492-7 .<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Yuh, C., O\u2019Bryan, C., Angelini, T., & Wimmer, M. (2021). Microindentation of Cartilage Before and After Articular Loading in a Bioreactor: Assessment of Length-Scale Dependency Using Two Analysis Methods.<\/a> Experimental Mechanics, 61, 1069 \u2013 1080.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. M\u00f3nica Aguinaga-R\u00edos, Fr\u00edas, S., Arenas-Aranda, D. J., & Ver\u00f3nica Fabiola Mor\u00e1n-Barroso. (2014). Microtia-atresia: aspectos cl\u00ednicos, gen\u00e9ticos y gen\u00f3micos<\/a>. Bolet\u00edn M\u00e9dico Del Hospital Infantil de M\u00e9xico, 71(6), 387\u2013395.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Author<\/strong>
    Karla Arias L\u00f3pez Arriaga is a Biomedical Engineering student at Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey with experience in hospital management, tissue engineering, agile project management, and biomedical 3D modeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This article was reviewed by Mar\u00eda Cristina Velasquillo, professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey. She holds a Ph.D. in Science from UNAM and is a researcher at Mexico\u2019s National Institute of Rehabilitation (INR). She is a member of the National System of Researchers and the Mexican Society for Tissue Engineering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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