In Vivo Electromechanical Reshaping of Ear Cartilage in a Rabbit Model A Minimally Invasive Approach for Otoplasty

摘要

Objective: To report the first successful study to date of in vivo electromechanical reshaping of ear cartilage in a rabbit model.Methods: Ears of New Zealand white rabbits were reshaped using percutaneous needle electrode electromechanical reshaping (5 V for 4 minutes) and were then bolstered for 4 weeks. Ten ears were treated, with 2 undergoing sham procedures and serving as controls. The treatment was performed using a platinum array of electrodes consisting of 4 parallel rows of needles inserted across the region of flexures in die ear. After 4 weeks, the animals were killed, and the ears were photographed and sectioned for conventional light microscopy and confocal microscopy (live-dead fluorescent assays).