title: Comparative analysis of the nail xenografts with cartilage autografts in eyelid reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The tarsal plate is the skeleton support system of the eyelids; therefore, repair during eyelid reconstruction is crucial. Many autogenous graft materials have been proposed for the tarsal reconstruction, such as nasal cartilage, palatal mucosa, upper eyelid tarsus, and auricular cartilage. Nail thickness and shape are similar to the tarsal plate with enough support for the eyelid. It also easily integrates with host tissues. The aim of this experimental study was to macroscopically and histopathologically compare nail xenografts with cartilage autografts when used in eyelid reconstruction in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 12 New Zealand rabbits were used in the experiment. Full-thickness defect with a 1-cm diameter was created in both upper eyelids. The right upper eyelids were used for cartilage autograft reconstruction, and the left upper eyelids were used for nail xenograft reconstruction. All animals were killed on week 12 after eyelid reconstruction. After the animals were killed, the upper eyelids of the rabbits were resected for macroscopic and histologic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In histologic evaluation, moderate foreign body giant cell formation and moderate histiocytic, neutrophilic, basophilic, and lymphocytic infiltration were observed in both experimental group and control group. In addition, this marked fibrous capsule formation was observed around the nail xenograft, which was absent in the cartilage autograft group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nail has some advantages such as being cost-effective, being easy to obtain, and having less rejection risk for being composed of dead cells. Nail xenografts can be taken into account instead of cartilage grafts in eyelid reconstruction.
authors: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. oozozay@yahoo.com
authors: Özay
authors: Ö
authors: Özkaya
authors: Semra
authors: S
authors: Karşidag
authors: Onur
authors: O
authors: Egemen
authors: Arzu Özcan
authors: AÖ
authors: Akçal
authors: Selami
authors: S
authors: Şirvan
authors: Fevziye
authors: F
authors: Kabukçuoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009262:Nails / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous