title: Reducing the morbidity involved in harvesting autogenous rib cartilage.
abstract: Although the use of autogenous cartilage is the gold standard in auricular reconstruction, its main disadvantage is the morbidity due to harvesting the cartilage. This includes postoperative pain, visible scar, and possibly asymmetry and reduced stability of the thorax. To reduce all of these drawbacks, we describe some modifications that reduce pain to a low tolerable level, hide the scar invisibly in the submammary fold in females, and induce regeneration as well reestablish stability of the rib defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Prosper-Hospital, D-45659 Recklinghausen, Germany. profsiegert@web.de
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siegert
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magritz
mesh_terms: D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012272:Ribs; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects