[Biomechanical properties of the costal cartilage and its significance in the timing of ear reconstruction].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the age-related change in biomechanical properties of the costal cartilage and its relevance to the timing of ear reconstruction with costal cartilage framework.


METHODS
The patients of 5 to 25 years old were divided into three groups according to their age. The biomechanical properties of costal cartilage harvested from these patients during ear reconstruction were tested, including stree-strain relationship, stress relaxation and creep, tensile strength. All the results were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
The costal cartilage from children group had the best biomechanical properties, while the costal cartilage from the adolescent group had the worst. The difference had a statistically significance (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The biomechanical properties of costal cartilage are age-related. So it is recommended that ear reconstruction with costal cartilage framework should be performed in childhood when the costal cartilage has the best biomechanical properties.
Yang
Qing-Hua
QH
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China.
Zhuang
Hong-Xing
HX
Zeng
Yan-Jun
YJ
Guo
Bi-Yun
BY
Guo
Wan-Hou
WH
Xie
Xiang
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012272:Ribs / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D055815:Young Adult