Ear splinting for ear anomalies in infants. Is it worth doing and have we missed the boat? A prospective, cohort study.

[INTRODUCTION] Ear deformities can cause distress to children as they age, especially with ear deformity surgery not routinely available through the NHS. Ear splinting is a non-surgical method that can obviate the need for surgery; however, it is believed that it can only be provided in the first few weeks of life. There is also little evidence in the literature regarding caregiver-reported outcomes of appearance and adherence.

[METHOD] Over a 5-year period (2018-2023), pre- and post-splinting questionnaires were provided to caregivers of infants who underwent ear splinting for treatment of congenital ear deformities. Caregiver-reported outcomes assessed the appearance of different anatomical areas of the ear, ease of use, complications and referral pathways.

[RESULTS] In total, 123 participants were recruited. Following ear splinting, there was a significant improvement in the ratings of appearance (p<0.001), shape (p<0.001) and projection (p<0.001) of the ear. Caregiver ratings of anatomical regions of the pinna also showed significant improvements for the helical rim (p<0.001) and scaphoid fossa (p<0.001). A small number of caregivers encountered difficulty using the splints (5%), which included application of the splints and keeping them clean and dry. Excellent results were reported regardless of age, with the oldest child being one year old, but the duration of splinting positively correlated with age (p<0.05).

[CONCLUSIONS] Ear splinting showed high satisfaction rates in outcomes and adherence, with a low complication rate. It is still preferable to start ear splinting early, but good results were still being found up to one year of age in this study.