Low set ears in the newborn

Abstract

There are a number of congenital anomalies which, although not possessing any inherent significance, yet are usually of some diagnostic help through their frequent association with major abnormalities, which, in their turn may not be readily obvious at the time. Thus, for example:. cafe-au-lait spots may be associated with such a variety of abnormalities such as neurofibromatosis, pulmonary stenosis, ataxia- telangiectasia, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and tuberose sclerosis. The presence of a single umbilical artery should lead to investigations to exclude congenital defects of the heart, alimentary and genito- urinary systems, and skeletal anomalies. Abnormalities of the ears are commonly associated with kidney pathology; it is interesting to note that certain drugs such as ~he aminoglycosides are both potentially nephro-and oto-toxic. Although published figures exist for various bodily features, (Feingold, Holmes, Smith) the question of low-lying ears poses some difficulty in that criteria for its diagnosis are not so well established. An imaginary line is usually made to run from the lateral canthus of the eye on to occipital protuberance at the back of the skull, and its relation to the ear taken as the point of reference.