Cryptotia
Cryptotia is a congenital deformity of the ear caused by abnormal positioning of muscles onto the upper ear cartilage that causes the upper part of the ear to be pulled close to the head where it is buried under the skin against the side of the head. Because the upper ear is buried under the skin, the space between the top of your ear and your head that sunglasses normally sit on is not there.
How is Cryptotia treated?
The ear is buried under the skin because of an abnormal positioning of small muscles of the ear. The buried part of the ear can be pulled out from under the skin, but it returns under the skin when released due to the pull of the abnormal muscle position.
If detected in the first few weeks of life cryptotia may be treated successfully with ear molding techniques. If detected later in infancy or childhood, the treatment is surgical, usually after age 3 years old.
In order to correct cryptotia the buried portion of the ear must be released from the abnormally positioned muscles and separated from the side of the head. This leaves a raw area on the back of the top portion of the ear that is closed by rearranging the skin on the back of the ear.
-
![]()
-
![]()
The image above show a patient 2 weeks after release of the upper portion of the ear with using skin from behind the ear to line the new sulcus between the ear and scalp (head). The patient was able to wear glasses comfortably and with a good fit after the procedure.
-
![]()
Description goes here -
![]()
In addition to the upper part of the ear being buried, there are frequently other changes to the shape and contours of the ear cartilage. Collectively these changes cause significant deformity of the ear.
