Auricular reconstruction remains one of the most complex and evolving fields in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Patients with congenital or acquired ear malformations present both aesthetic and functional challenges that demand highly individualized and multidisciplinary treatment approaches. In this 60-minute international symposium, we will invite and bring together leading experts from all over the world to share recent progress, address ongoing challenges, and explore future directions in ear reconstruction. The symposium will include the following topics, each presented by one export:

Surgical Approaches and Clinical Experience in China: This session will provide an overview of the current surgical strategies for auricular reconstruction, including autologous rib cartilage techniques, alloplastic frameworks, and prosthetic ear reconstruction. Drawing on extensive clinical experience from high-volume centers in China, the presentation will highlight best practices, technical innovations, complication management, and long-term patient outcomes. Special emphasis will be placed on how localized adaptations and innovations have contributed to the global advancement of auricular reconstruction.

Functional Ear Reconstruction and Auditory Rehabilitation: Focusing on patients with congenital auditory canal atresia or middle ear malformations, this session will address the functional challenges in ear reconstruction. The discussion will cover various options for auditory rehabilitation—particularly bone conduction hearing devices—and how they are integrated with aesthetic reconstruction efforts. It will also explore the inherent tension between cosmetic goals and hearing restoration, proposing strategies to achieve an optimal balance.

Advances and Challenges in Artificial Materials and Tissue Engineering: This talk will introduce recent developments in bioengineered materials and tissue-engineered scaffolds for auricular reconstruction. Despite promising progress, key challenges such as biocompatibility, mechanical strength, integration with host tissue, and long-term durability continue to limit clinical translation. Case examples and pilot studies will be used to demonstrate the potential and limitations of these emerging technologies.

Genetic and Developmental Biology of Auricular Malformations: The final session will highlight research progress in the genetics and embryology of congenital ear anomalies. Presenters will discuss key genes and molecular pathways identified in recent studies that govern ear development and morphogenesis. The clinical implications of these findings for early diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, and patient counseling will be emphasized, laying the groundwork for precision medicine approaches in ear reconstruction.

The following experts are potential speakers. Upon acceptance of this proposal, we plan to formally invite them to participate in the symposium:

1.       Tian-Yu Zhang (the proposer, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, China, expert in functional ear reconstruction)

2.       Kay Chang (Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University, USA, specialized in Otolaryngology)

3.       Dan Jiang (St Thomas' Hospital, UK, specialized in Otolaryngology)

4.       Myung-Whan Suh (Seoul National University Hospital, Korea, specialized in Otolaryngology)

5.       Alexander Huber (University of Zurich, Switzerland, specialized in Otolaryngology)

6.       Henning Frenzel (University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, specialized in Otolaryngology)

7.       Bradley W. Kesser (University of Virginia School of Medicine, USA, specialized in Otolaryngology)

This symposium aims to foster international collaboration, integrate clinical practice with scientific innovation, and promote patient-centered, evidence-based approaches to the evolving challenges of auricular reconstruction.