Surgical Treatment for Atresia

Aural atresia (enlargement or opening of an ear canal) is a condition in which there is no external ear canal. Patients with this condition may also have malformation of the middle ear, but often the inner ear and auditory nerve are normal. Aural atresia usually affects just one ear, but can present bilaterally.

Several treatment options are available. A normal-sized ear canal can be created through aural atresia repair surgery, which can be completed as an outpatient procedure. Often, surgery for the ear canal is coordinated in conjunction with plastic surgery for a related abnormality of the external ear (microtia).

If these procedures are not the patient’s best option, an Auditory Osseointegrate Device (Baha) may be considered to bypass the outer and middle ear and send sound information directly to the inner ear.