title: [Clinical study of chest development after costal cartilage harvesting in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the development of the chest wall after costal cartilage harvesting in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients, who underwent microtia reconstruction with costal cartilage grafts, were examined in the donor-site with physical examination and radiography. Forty normal children were selected as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in size between the bilateral chests, and compared to the control. The rib deformity in each donor site was not observed on the radiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The costal cartilage harvesting in children has no significant evidence to influence the development of the chest wall.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100041, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hong-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Yan-Yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013909:Thorax / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*