Viability of crushed and diced cartilage grafts: a study in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of dicing and different degrees of crushing on cartilage graft viability and outcome in rhinoplasty.


METHODS
Cartilage was harvested from both ears of 29 rabbits. For each animal, 6 cartilage pieces were prepared as follows and inserted into the paraspinal subcutaneous tissue: (1) left intact, (2) diced to approximately 1 x 1-mm pieces and then wrapped in oxidized regenerated cellulose, (3) slightly crushed, (4) moderately crushed, (5) significantly crushed, and (6) severely crushed. Animals were killed at 2, 5, and 10 months, and graft specimens were microscopically examined.


RESULTS
As crushing intensity rose, cartilage viability decreased and more cartilage tissue was transformed to connective tissue. The intact and slightly crushed grafts showed significant chondrocyte proliferation. This decreased as crushing intensity increased, and the severely crushed and diced cellulose-wrapped grafts exhibited almost no peripheral chondrocyte proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
Slight crushing of a cartilage graft can produce outstanding graft material that forms softer nasal contours and fills defects well. However, severe crushing of cartilage grafts results in extensive necrosis and eventual reduction in graft volume. The use of oxidized regenerated cellulose to wrap diced cartilage grafts also tends to reduce clinical predictability owing to negative effects on cartilage viability and regeneration.
Cakmak
Ozcan
O
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ozcakmak@hotmail.com
Bircan
Sema
S
Buyuklu
Fuat
F
Tuncer
Ilhan
I
Dal
Teoman
T
Ozluoglu
Levent Naci
LN
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006085:Graft Survival; D011817:Rabbits; D012225:Rhinoplasty