title: Histomorphological changes of Tutoplast-processed fascia lata grafts in a rabbit rhinoplasty model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tutoplast-processed fascia lata (TPFL) is a commercially available homograft that has been successfully used as graft tissue for rhinoplasty. The present study evaluates the histomorphological changes of TPFL in a rabbit rhinoplasty model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study using a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal laboratory of the Asan Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used 15 New Zealand White rabbits. Each rabbit was implanted with a TPFL (experimental group) and autologous fascia lata (control group) graft of equal size into the nasal dorsum. Rabbits were killed at 1, 3, and 6 months, and the grafts were removed and microscopically assessed for fibroblast proliferation, neovascularization, inflammation, and thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For TPFL grafts, the degree of inflammation significantly decreased between 1 and 3 months (P = .041). The degree of fibroblast proliferation continually increased over time. There was a mild degree of neovascularization for the TPFL graft at 1 month. The degree of neovascularization increased between 3 and 6 months (P = .041). For the degree of inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, and neovascularization, there was no significant difference between TPFL and autologous fascia lata at 6 months. Mean thickness analysis showed that there was no significant thickness reduction in both TPFL and autologous fascia lata grafts at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TPFL grafts showed negligible resorption rates and favorable tissue reactions in the rabbit rhinoplasty model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Sang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hyeok Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*