Short Communication: Implant-Retained Auricular Prostheses: An Assessment of Implant Success and Prosthetic Complications

The aims of this study were to evaluate the success rates and peri-implant soft tissue responses of auricular implants, to assess prosthetic complications, and to calculate the survival rate of silicone auricular prostheses. Twenty-nine extraoral implants were placed in 10 patients with 11 auricular defects. Implant failure was defined as clinically detectable implant mobility, and a 5-point scale was used to record the health of peri-implant soft tissues. Prosthetic complications were assessed, and the survival rate of silicone auricular prostheses was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The implant success rate was 100%. A few soft tissue problems were noted. The overall cumulative survival rate for the first prostheses of the patients was 70% after 18 months. The mean survival time was 17 months. Extraoral implants had a very high success rate in the mastoid region. Prosthetic assessment indicated that although experience with wearing prostheses reduces retention degradation, discoloration and reduced quality of fit at the prosthesis edge over time remain the major problems in maxillofacial prosthetics.