Radiologic and histological evaluation of otogenic sliced cartilage grafts at the tip of the chin of rabbits: an experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
Cartilage grafts have been commonly used in plastic and reconstructive surgery applications for many different goals, such as auricular reconstruction and rhinoplasty. The use of autologous cartilage is ideal for many reasons. An attempt was made to produce an experimental animal model to test the efficacy of otogenic Surgicel-wrapped sliced cartilage.


METHODS
In this experimental study, cartilage grafts were harvested from rabbits' ears. These grafts were cut in pieces of 0.5 mm to 1 mm using a no. 11 blade. This cartilage mass was wrapped in one layer of Surgicel (oxidized regenerated cellulose) and inserted in the chin of the rabbits. MR analyses were made at 1 week and 6 months and histological analyses were made at 6 months.


RESULTS
Cartilage grafts maintained approximately 80% of their dimensions in MRI. The proportion of necrosis was between 30% and 50% and the proportion of resorption was approximately 20% in the histological studies.
Akbas
Hayati
H
Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ondokuzmayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey. drhayati@hotmail.com
Karacaoglan
Naci
N
Eroglu
Lutfi
L
Uysal
Ata
A
Incesu
Lutfi
L
Kandemir
Bedri
B
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; D002680:Chin / Q000601:surgery*; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000601:surgery; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures
D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; C013695:Surgicel