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Scientific Oral Presentation

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Association of Gestational Maternal Medications and Microtia Incidence

Saturday, October 17, 2026
2:54 PM - 3:00 PM PT
Location: 404A

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Allen A. Khudaverdyan, BA

    Medical Student
    NYU Grossman School of Medicine
    New York, NY, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Christie Hung, BA

    Medical Student
    New York University Grossman School of Medicine
    New York, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • CG

    Charles Generotti, MD

    Resident
    New York University Grossman School of Medicine, United States

  • EV

    Eleni Varelas, MD

    Dr
    New York University, United States

  • Zahrah M. Taufique, MD

    Pediatric Otolaryngologist and Craniofacial Surgeon
    NYU Langone Health
    Brooklyn, NY, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • DE

    Danielle F. Eytan, MD

    Associate Professor, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    NYU Langone Health
    New york, New York, United States

Disclosure(s):
Allen A. Khudaverdyan, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Zahrah M. Taufique, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: The etiology of microtia has been linked to genetic and environmental factors but is not fully understood. The goal of this study is to understand associations between maternal medications and microtia.

Methods: Patients with complete birthing records between January 1, 2010, and December 17, 2025, were identified using the Epic Cosmos database. Gestational medication use was identified by medications prescribed, dispensed, or reported by mothers at any point during pregnancy. Patients with microtia were identified with ICD-10 code Q17.2. Odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated, with Benjami-Hochberg procedure to account for multiple comparisons.

Results: Among 11,791,247 patients, 5,155 patients were diagnosed with microtia (4.37 per 10,000 individuals). Several opioids were positively associated with microtia, including morphine (1.35, 95% CI: 1.28-1.42) and hydromorphone (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06 – 1.24). Betamethasone (OR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.51-1.76), metoclopramide (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.18-1.32), ondansetron (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.17), gabapentin (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05 – 1.44) and nitrofuran derivatives (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05 – 1.23) were also associated with higher microtia incidence. Fluoxetine (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53 – 0.83), doxylamine (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70 – 0.85), lamotrigine (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39 – 0.83), hydrocodone (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85 – 0.96), oxycodone (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84 – 0.96), and fentanyl (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.73 – 0.83) were associated with lower odds of microtia incidence. Other anti-depressants, anticonvulsants, anti-emetics, corticosteroids, antibiotics, opioids, and NSAIDs were not associated with microtia incidence.

Conclusions: This analysis suggests several gestational medications associated with increased odds of microtia in patients. Further clinical investigation is warranted to differentiate between maternal conditions and environmental factors as confounding factors of these medications in association with microtia. More detailed analysis adjusting for covariates is currently pending.