Comparative analysis of the influence of perichondrium on conjunctival epithelialization on conchal cartilage grafts in eyelid reconstruction: experimental study in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Although the role of cartilage grafts in reconstruction of the posterior eyelid lamella is well established, spontaneous conjunctival epithelialization on such grafts has yet to be fully proven. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the influence of perichondrium on conjunctival epithelialization over conchal cartilage grafts used in eyelid reconstruction in rabbits.


METHODS
The posterior lamellae of 100 lower eyelids from 50 rabbits were reconstructed with autogenous grafts of conchal ear cartilage. In the right eyelids, cartilage was grafted with the perichondrium in direct contact with the eyeball, and the left eyelids were reconstructed in a similar manner but using cartilage grafts without perichondrium. The animals were killed after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks, and their lower eyelids were analyzed macroscopically and histologically.


RESULTS
The percentage difference in conjunctival epithelialization on the cartilage with perichondrium and that without perichondrium was 11.41 percent in the first week of the experiment, 13.64 percent in the second week, 18.69 percent in the third week, 10.38 percent in the fourth week, and 6.17 percent in the fifth week. The average percentage conjunctival epithelialization in the eyelids reconstructed with a cartilage graft with perichondrium was significantly higher throughout the 5 weeks of the experiment than in the eyelids reconstructed with cartilage without perichondrium (p < 0.0002).


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that the perichondrium had an important role in conjunctival epithelialization in eyelids reconstructed with a cartilage graft in the present study.
Nigro
Marcelus V A S
MVAS
São Paulo, Brazil From the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of São Paulo Medical School, Hospital das Clínicas.
Friedhofer
Henri
H
Natalino
Renato José Mendonça
RJM
Ferreira
Marcus Castro
MC
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology*; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000637:transplantation*; D004848:Epithelium; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*