title: [Use of irradiated bovine cartilage in the correction of defects of the nasal structure].
abstract: Reference is made a personal experience in the use of treated and irradiated bovine cartilage (Chondroplast) in the correction of bone and cartilage defects of the nasal structures. On 14 patients 25 Chondroplast grafts, single or multiple grafts, were performed with an average follow-up of 15.5 months (4-27 months). The Chondroplast prove quite moldable, easy to use, did not cause allergies or rejection. In one of the patients (7.1%) a post-operative infection arose which was readily treated by broad-spectrum antibiotics without requiring removal of the graft. In one other case (7.1%), after three months, it was observed that the graft had shifted. The author attributes both these complications to technical errors (Was the pocket housing the graft too big? Was there intra-operative contamination?) rather than to characteristics of the material. On the other hand, a different behaviour was found inherent to reabsorption which was evaluated three months after surgery and then again for all cases, in September, 1989 (average 15.5 months after surgery). Upon careful clinical examination a grade ranging from + to + + + + was given according to entity (minimal, significant, marked, total). Three months after surgery no reabsorption was found while this not the case upon examination in September 1989 (average 15.5 months). At this time, of the 25 grafts, 5 (20%) had total reabsorption, 3 (12%) had marked and 3 (12%) minimal reabsorption while 14 (56%) showed no evidence of reabsorption at all. The greatest degree of reabsorption was observed in those sites where the tension was greatest (columella, anterior nasal column). More precisely, out of a total of 9 reconstructions between the column and the columella 4 (44.4%) presented total and 3 (33.3%) marked reabsorption while there were no cases of minimal or significant reabsorption. Moreover, there were only 2 (22.2%) cases which remained unaffected. Reabsorption proved least or non existent where there was the least tension (back, zygoma, septum). In fact, out of a total of 18 reconstructions (12 back, 5 septum and 1 zygoma) only one case (5.5%) of total reabsorption was found, no cases of marked or significant reabsorption and 3 cases (16.6%) of minimal reabsorption. Fourteen cases remained intact (77.7%). It would, therefore, appear that Chondroplast is a suitable graft material if it is not subjected to tension.
authors.affiliation: Reparto di Otorinolaringoiatria dell'Ospedale Civile di Bolzano.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000637:transplantation*; D002417:Cattle; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Utilizzazione della cartilagine bovina irradiata nella correzione dei difetti delle strutture nasali.