Editing Outer ear (section)

==Clinical significance==
Malformations of the external ear can be a consequence of [[hereditary disease]], or exposure to environmental factors such as [[radiation]], [[infection]]. Such defects include:
*A [[preauricular fistula]], which is a long narrow tube, usually near the [[Tragus (ear)|tragus]]. This can be inherited as an [[autosomal recessive]] fashion and may suffer from chronic infection in later life.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|pp=68–69}}
* Cosmetic defects, such as very large ears, small ears.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|pp=65–66}}{{sfn|Пальчун, Крюков|2001|p=489}}
* Malformation that may lead to functional impairment, such as [[atresia]] of the external auditory meatus{{sfn|СЭС|1986|p=89}} or [[aplasia]] of the pinna,{{sfn|СЭС|1986|p=68}} 
* Genetic [[syndrome]]s, which include:
**[[Konigsmark syndrome]], characterised by small ears and atresia of the external auditory canal, causing [[conductive hearing loss]] and inherited in an [[autosomal recessive]] manner.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|pp=66–67}}
** [[Goldenhar syndrome]], a combination of developmental abnormalities affecting the ears, eyes, bones of the skull, and vertebrae, inherited in an [[autosomal dominant]] manner.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|p=67}}
**[[Treacher Collins syndrome]], characterised by dysplasia of the auricle, atresia of the bony part of the auditory canal, hypoplasia of the auditory ossicles and tympanic cavity, and 'mixed' deafness (both [[sensorineural deafness|sensorineural]] and conductive), inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|pp=67–68}}{{sfn|Асанов и др.|2003|pp=198–199}}
**[[Crouzon syndrome]], characterised by bilateral atresia of the external auditory canal, inherited in an [[autosomal dominant]] manner.{{sfn|Асанов и др.|2003|p=198}}

===Surgery===
Usually, malformations are treated with surgery, although artificial prostheses are also sometimes used.{{sfn|Пальчун, Крюков|2001|p=489}}
*Preauricular fistulas are generally not treated unless chronically inflamed.{{sfn|Пальчун, Крюков|2001|p=489}}
*Cosmetic defects without functional impairment are generally repaired after ages 6–7.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|p=65}}
If malformations are accompanied by hearing loss amenable to correction, then the early use of [[hearing aid]]s may prevent complete hearing loss.{{sfn|Богомильский, Чистякова|2002|p=65}}