TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL AURICULAR DEFORMITIES IN NEWBORNS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Considering that congenital auricular deformities, such as prominent ear (or bat ear), can generate significant psychosocial repercussions throughout life and that surgical interventions are not recommended in the neonatal period, it becomes essential to explore early and non-invasive therapeutic alternatives. This scoping review aims to map the scientific evidence regarding non-surgical treatments used for the correction of congenital auricular deformities, specifically prominent ear, in newborns. To this end, a scoping review was conducted, following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA-ScR. Searches were performed in electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, BVS/Lilacs, and EMBASE). Thus, a final sample of 10 studies was observed. The findings demonstrate consistently high success rates, with only mild and self-limiting complications recorded, predominantly skin irritations. Among the identified treatments, commercial devices such as EarWell, LiangEar, and Earlimn stand out, in addition to low-cost techniques that use simple materials, such as cotton and micropore, dental wax, and adhesive tapes, all with comparable efficacy. The literature reinforces that the high plasticity of the auricular cartilage in the neonatal period, due to the influence of maternal estrogen, is a determining factor for therapeutic success. Interventions initiated up to the 21st day of life showed the highest correction rates and required less treatment time. Which allows us to conclude that non-surgical methods represent safe, effective, and economically viable alternatives for the correction of congenital auricular deformities, especially when applied early, which can substantially reduce the need for future surgical procedures.