Key points from article :
First time ever in the regenerative medicine, children receive new ears grown from their own cells.
Surgery was inspired by the earmouse, a lab mouse which appeared to have a human ear growing on its back.
New technique scans the child's unaffected ear, reverses the dimensions, prints a 3D biodegradable mould.
Cartilage cells are taken from the recipient’s unaffected ear for filling the holes.
Over three months the cartilage cells begin to grow in the shape of the mould.
5 children suffering from a condition known as microtia have undergone the experimental surgery.
Scientists will now monitor the recipients for at least 5 years to evaluate the success of the procedure.
The procedure was published in eBioMedicine journal.
