title: [Biomechanical properties of the costal cartilage and its significance in the timing of ear reconstruction].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Bi-Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wan-Hou
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: 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