Guidance
3 Committee considerations
The evidence
3.1 NICE did a rapid review of the published literature on the efficacy and safety of this procedure. This comprised a comprehensive literature search and detailed review of the evidence from 2 sources, which was discussed by the committee. The evidence included 2 case series. It is presented in table 2 of the interventional procedures overview. Other relevant literature is in the appendix of the overview.
3.2 The specialist advisers and the committee considered the key efficacy outcomes to be: quality of life and helical-mastoid distance.
3.3 The specialist advisers and the committee considered the key safety outcomes to be: skin erosion over implants and infection.
3.4 Patient commentary was sought but none was received.
Committee comments
3.5 Most of the evidence reviewed came from adults. However, in NHS clinical practice, surgical correction of prominent ears is usually done in children and young people.
3.6 The committee was concerned about the reported frequency of skin erosion over the implants.
3.7 The committee noted that the benefits may disappear when the implants are removed.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-3515-4