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Introduction of congenital ear malformation (CEM)
The ear is divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Each part contains multiple structures, and the three parts are successively connected and integrated to realize the functions of hearing and balance. The outer ear also has an aesthetic effect. CEM can occur in the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear individually, in pairs, or in three, and each part can have a single or multiple structural malformations. At the same time, it can be accompanied by multiple deformities (including syndrome) of various organ systems such as ear, face and neck, eye, heart, kidney, urinary tract, and movement, as well as complications such as inflammation and cholesteatoma. Therefore, there are various types of CEM and the treating involves hearing, plastic surgery, complications, and multiple deformities. The complexity of the situation necessitates a multidisciplinary collaboration and a sequential treatment plan, providing an optimal opportunity to address diverse malformations.
Current situation
Given the complexity of CEM and their treatment, it is difficult to cover all types and treatments of CEM in a single hospital, especially to achieve large sample data, and there are fewer doctors who can handle CEM across multiple disciplines at the same time. The absence of a universally adopted standard and comprehensive overview of CEM, including aspects such as definition, classification, and sequence therapy, on an international scale poses challenges in transmitting information and comparing literature across various regions and hospitals. At the same time, it is difficult for patients to obtain comprehensive and correct overall planning and good results, often leading to irreversible losses.
Our main work
With over 30 years of expertise, technology integration of otology, plastic surgery and ear embryo development, along with a wealth of clinical and scientific research encompassing 3231 cases (4714 ears), we have performed international innovation works to improve appearance, hearing, complications, multi-malformations and the mechanism of CEM. Our achievements include pioneering the concept and dissemination of sequential therapy for CEM, revolutionizing the reconstruction technology for the outer ear canal and auricle, and establishing specialized CEM centers, multi-disciplinary (9 specialties) and multi-center (over 170 hospitals) joint diagnosis and treatment system to achieve one-stop high-level overall plan formulation and sequence therapy. Additionally, we have established a CEM resource bank, published the first international monograph and special issues, and reached a broad audience of more than 2 million, and 250,000 live online to the author’s lecture.
The significance of this special issue
Based on our work, this special issue provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of CEM, including its definition, classification, principles of sequence treatment, large-sample epidemiological study, hearing characteristics, hearing masking, the relationship between the degree of malformation and hearing, the selection of accurate hearing solutions (including surgery and hearing devices), and the innovative surgical methods to address the relationship between hearing and plastic sequential treatment. We also make a detailed elaboration of the representative congenital malformation of the middle and outer ear (CMMOE), and briefly introduce the malformation of the auricle and inner ear. As a result, the content covers the outer, middle and inner ear. Combined with the needs of the journal, this special issue focuses on the summary and innovation of hearing, and introduces the innovative achievements and contributions of the author’s team in the field of CEM, providing a reference for the unified standard and sequence therapy of CEM.
We believe that the publication of this special issue will promote technical progress and cooperation in this field internationally. We are preparing an international system through China’s "One Belt and One Road" to open to the world, welcome doctors from all over the world to exchange, and provide well medical conditions for international patients.
You can learn us more by
Our hospital Web Site: https://www.301hospital.com.cn/en/introduce.html
YiHui Zou personal Web Site: https://www.301hospital.com.cn/doctor/detail/1893.html
Exchanging: By Wechat https://forms.ebdan.net/ls/PkSCvGuY?bt=yxy
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Correction Statement
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.