GOSH patient reveals new ears made from his own ribs

Nine-year-old Kieran has fulfilled his dream of wearing sunglasses after surgery to construct ears at Great Ormond Street Hospital.A nine-year-old boy has been able to fulfil his dream of wearing sunglasses for the first time after surgery to construct ears at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Kieran was born with bilateral microtia which affects just one in 100,000 babies and meant neither of his ears had properly formed. Kieran came to GOSH, which performs more ear reconstructions than any other hospital in the UK. This includes 35-40 total reconstructions each year, five of which are bilateral reconstructions (both sides) like Kieran’s.

GOSH consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon Mr Neil Bulstrode, one of only a handful of clinicians worldwide to carry out double ear reconstructions, carried out an initial six-hour operation on Kieran in August last year. Mr Bulstrode took rib cartilage from both sides of Kieran’s chest, which he then carefully carved and shaped into frameworks for Kieran’s new ears.

Mr Bulstrode used an outline of Kieran’s mum Louise’s ears as a ‘family template’, to make them as close as possible to the ear shape that Kieran might otherwise have inherited from either of his parents. The ear frameworks were then grafted onto either side of Kieran’s head, placing them under pockets of skin that were then sucked down with a vacuum so that the skin conformed to the contours of each new ear.

In February 2015 Kieran had a follow-up operation to lift the newly formed ears away from the sides of his head. Two further pieces of cartilage from Kieran’s ribs were used like wedges to push the ears forwards into the correct position, and then covered in a skin graft taken from the side of his scalp.

Kieran’s new ears have been healing since the final operation. Three months after the second procedure Kieran came back to GOSH for an important follow-up appointment to learn how successful the surgery had been. Mr Bulstrode was very pleased with the results but an excited Kieran only had one question for the surgeon: “Can I wear sunglasses now?”

When Mr Bulstrode said the ears had healed sufficiently for Kieran to sport sunglasses, Kieran responded “Awesome!” and promptly put a pair on for the first time, which he then admired in a mirror.

Kieran said: “Before the operations I thought I might get elephant ears or mouse ears, but I’ve got my mum’s ears. It’s weird but I feel great. Mr Bulstrode is the best surgeon as he made my wishes come true – I’ve got ears and can wear sunglasses!”

Kieran’s mum Louise, a nursery teacher, said: “Kieran has been very brave throughout this journey and the results today are overwhelming. We know we all made the right decision with Kieran to go ahead with surgery, it’s already made such a huge difference to his self-esteem and confidence.”

Kieran has already undergone a separate series of operations to improve his hearing, and while the ear reconstruction is primarily a cosmetic procedure, Mr Bulstrode said it stood to bring enormous benefits to Kieran.

Mr Bulstrode said:  “I’m very pleased with the shape and definition of the ears, but for me the most important thing is the way this has made Kieran feel and how pleased he and his family are. The operation has already had a huge impact on his confidence, and this could have a transformative effect on his life as he gets older.”