Malformations usually require surgery, while most deformities can be corrected by ear molding.
Atrial molding with external devices is the safest and most effective nonsurgical therapy for newborns with pinna deformities.
With a favorable prognosis and virtually no complications, ear molding offers the opportunity to prevent associated psychological distress and reduce the cost of subsequent surgical otoplasty in the future.
The timing of treatment initiation is the most important factor for success. A failure rate of 50% is estimated for molding started after 3 weeks of age. The malleability of the auricular cartilage is influenced during the neonatal period, therefore, the molding of the ear takes advantage of the plasticity of the auricular cartilage during the initial period after birth.
The efficacy rate reaches up to 100% when treatment is started in the first two weeks after birth.
