Donor-site morbidity following minimally invasive costal cartilage harvest technique.
OBJECTIVE
Autologous costal cartilage is a promising alternative for mastoid obliteration. However, donor-site morbidities of the chest wall limit the use of this graft. To address this issue, we have developed a minimally-invasive technique of harvesting costal cartilage and report donor site morbidity associated with the procedure.


METHODS
Donor site morbidities were evaluated for 151 patients who underwent costal cartilage harvest, canal wall down mastoidectomy, and mastoid obliteration. Pain and cosmetic concern were evaluated via visual analogue scale (VAS). Scars were evaluated via the modified Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Postoperative complications were assessed during the follow-up period.


RESULTS
The mean duration of noticeable pain was 5.3 days post operation. The mean VAS score for pain was 3.0 of 10 on the first day after the operation and gradually declined. At the 6 months post operation, the mean VAS cosmetic score at the costal cartilage harvest site was 0.6 of 10. The mean VSS score was 9.5 out of 10 total, and the mean POSAS score was 23.27 out of 110 total.


CONCLUSIONS
The minimally-invasive chopped costal cartilage harvest technique resulted in acceptable pain, cosmetic concern, and postoperative complications for most patients. There were no major postoperative complications. Costal cartilage is an acceptable donor for mastoid obliteration in canal wall down mastoidectomy, especially in the context of the extremely low donor site morbidity of the minimally-invasive technique presented in the study.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Hyung Chae
HC
Yang
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Hyong-Ho
HH
Cho
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Si Young
SY
Jo
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Chul Ho
CH
Jang
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Yong Beom
YB
Cho
Cartilage; Otologic Surgical Procedures; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative; Tissue and Organ Procurement