Dr. Robert Ruder Gives The Phrase, "Can You Hear Me Now" New Meaning

New Hope For Patients With Microtia

Not one to shy away from unusual requests, much to Ruder's delight the butcher obliged, and that is where new hope for patients with Microtia began.

Ruder says, "The butcher probably thought I was mad, I didn't want meat, I was asking for the bones."

Lucky for Ruder, he got exactly what he wanted. Starting with a dozen ribs, Ruder worked on his project tirelessly, eventually seeking 100 and then 200 cows' ribs to work on. Thanks to Ruder's determination and ingenuity, Ruder can now proclaim with confidence that it is possible to create a human ear using nothing more than pieces of a rib.

Naturally, Ruder now refers to a human rib, not that of a cow.

How To Build A Human Ear From Scratch
How does one build a human ear from a rib? That's a great question, at least according to Ruder. Ruder spent thousands of hours manipulating cows' ribs while trying to discover the exact procedure needed to create human ears from grafts of cartilage found within a human rib.

While many scientists and researchers tried to do the same (create an artificial ear) using synthetic materials and cartilage alone in the past, few achieved positive, long-lasting results. Not so with Ruder's new technique.

This ingenious development may change the lives of people with Microtia, one of many common birth defects where a child is born with a small nodule called a "nub" in place of an ear. Few plastic surgeons had effective procedures in the past to help patients with Microtia. Ruder however, undaunted by the tedious nature of the surgery, now has patients flocking to him from around the world. He has according to many in the field, created frenzy among parents of children with Microtia.

Parents flock to Ruder from around the world, all hoping their child can enjoy a normal, happy life, one that includes a proper ear…

While microtia is not harmful in and of itself, most children suffer needlessly from taunting and unwelcome stares from other children during school. Ruder notes, "These children become emotionally devastated, and grow up with low self-esteem and emotional problems, all because of a common birth defect we can now correct."

For a plastic surgeon, a discovery like this is more than anyone could hope for during their lifetime.

How Much Crafting An Ear From Scratch Costs
The exact procedure involved when creating a human ear from rib cartilage is tedious in nature, costing patients roughly $15,000 to correct. Not a onetime affair, patients undergo multiple surgeries before their ear appears normal. How does the procedure take place?

• During the first surgery, the surgeon removes a tiny piece of the patient's rib shaped much like an E. Once removed, the surgeon sculpts the E-shaped bone so it resembles a human ear. The surgeon can then place the newly sculpted ear in a small pocket of skin found where the natural ear should be.
• Next, the surgeon creates a lobe using fatty remnants from the patient's former "nub" or nodule, the piece of skin that exists in place of a natural or normal ear.
• Following creation of an earlobe, an Otolaryngologist must create an ear canal that links to the patient's inner ear.
• Finally, the surgeon can create a small groove behind the ear using grafts to further improve the look and utility of the newly sculpted ear.

Thankfully, many insurance companies cover part of the expenses associated with surgery. However, hundreds of patients do not have the financial resources or insurance to help cover the costs of corrective surgery.

For Dr. Ruder, this is no problem. Dr. Ruder often offers to cover costs for those patients that lack financial resources to have the surgery performed, in exchange for what a family has to offer. This may range from cupcakes to counseling. For many, Ruder is indeed, an angel sent from heaven to offer a new life, and new hope for children with microtia.

Ruder Offers New Life And New Hope For Families
One patient's mother exclaimed her son "felt so happy" following the surgery, coming out of his shell and enjoying a normal, ordinary life. Ruder feels all children should enjoy the opportunity to feel normal, and that this new procedure is one that all patients should have access to if possible.

Many patients with microtia can hear, although not as well as if they had a normal ear. Typically, the inner ear canal remains intact in patients with microtia. Many children can hear muffled sounds, while others rely on lip-reading to better "hear" what others say. Thus, when Ruder builds a normal "looking" ear for the patient, they can live a life as ordinary as any other child might dream about.

Despite Ruder's early insecurities about the surgery, he can now claim with confidence his surgery is effective and lasting.

Most children with microtia suffer lifelong emotional problems... thanks to Dr. Ruder, they no longer have to suffer…

Ruder claims his newly developed surgery is, "One of the most rewarding surgeries I perform." As well it should be. While there are some risks associated with surgery, Ruder believes most patients will find the benefits far outweigh any risk involved. Now a seasoned expert, Ruder performs corrective surgery for children and adults with microtia. While surgery on adults is much more challenging, and often the outcome not as elegant as when performed in young patients, most of Ruder's older patients claim they are happy with the results.

After all, feeling good and experiencing joy and innovation is what life is all about.

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