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Microtia, a congenital anomaly of the auricle with a wide spectrum of presentation with challenging reconstruction. Management depends on its severity with variable reconstructive options. Preoperative planning is crucial to achieve better results and decrease operative time. In this article, we aim to show the utility of an affordable technology with the use of a smartphone, an open-source computer-aided design (CAD) software, and a desktop 3D printer in planning future ear location for unilateral microtia reconstruction in step-by-step fashion.

Facial 3D scanning was done using a smartphone that has a three-dimensional capture system. The scan was then used in an open-sourced CAD software. A mirror image mask was created by reflecting normal side anatomic features to the abnormal side. The mask constitutes the desired area for reconstruction given the ear anthropometrics. Finally …