Microtia in Finland: comparison of characteristics in different populations

OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics of microtia in Finland and in other populations. METHODS: Retrospective case series and patient questionnaire of 190 microtia patients referred for reconstruction of the earlobe to the Helsinki University Central Hospital during the years 1980-2005. RESULTS: The prevalence in Finland is 4.34/10,000 and varied in other populations from 0.83 to 17.4/10,000. Microtia is seen more in males (58%), as unilateral (88.4%), right-sided (59.5%) and it is almost always associated with aural atresia or stenosis (93%). There is conductive hearing loss in 96% and sensorineural hearing loss in 8% of the affected ears. 11% of the patients had congenital heart defects, and 5% had anomalies of extremities. CONCLUSIONS: There is variation in the prevalence and characteristics of microtia in different populations.