Dorsal onlay cartilage autografts: comparing resorption in a XXXX model.

@entity39 @entity1711 @entity95 @entity730 @entity1710
OBJECTIVE: To compare the resorption characteristics of dorsal onlay cartilage autografts from the septum, auricle, and rib. METHODS: Fourteen New Zealand white @entity95 underwent harvesting of equal-sized septal, auricular, and costal cartilage grafts free of perichondrium. All autografts were implanted subcutaneously on the nasal dorsum and then removed after 3 months. Graft mass, chondrocyte density, and histologic features from @entity1710 - @entity1711 -stained sections were compared before and 3 months after implantation. RESULTS: At 3 months after implantation, septal cartilage grafts averaged 30.8% resorption by weight, followed by auricular (23.1%) and costal (7.6%) cartilage. All 3 groups demonstrated similar changes in chondrocyte density and minor @entity730 at 3 months. There was no evidence of @entity39 or inflammatory changes in any of the specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Although the septum is often the preferred source of autogenous cartilage for nasal reconstruction, short-term resorption of septal cartilage appears to be higher for dorsal onlay grafts. The low resorption of costal cartilage may be due in part to its compact shape compared with septal and auricular cartilage. It remains to be seen whether these differences in resorption persist in the long term.
