title: In situ split costal cartilage graft harvesting through a small incision using a gouge.
abstract: A costal cartilage graft is one of the most useful materials in reconstructive plastic surgery. In this article, a technique of in situ split costal cartilage graft harvesting through a small incision (2 to 3 cm) using a gouge is described. The technique used has many advantages: it is a simple technique, is easy to learn, and can be performed quickly through a small incision. By avoiding complete costal cartilage graft harvesting, the associated potential complications such as pleural perforation, chest wall deformities, long-lasting postoperative pain, and incisional scar length are reduced. This technique will be useful in selected cases for which a complete block of costal cartilage graft is not needed.
authors.affiliation: ONEP Plastic Surgery Science Institute, and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kadir Has University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ağaoğlu
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Erol
mesh_terms: D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012272:Ribs; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting