title: The Effect of Subcutaneous Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection on Viability of Auricular Cartilage Grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cartilage grafts are frequently used for structural integrity and volume restoration, one of the main concerns dealing with cartilage grafting is gradual volume loss and unpredictable viability rates of cartilage grafts. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a well known platelet concentrate reported to enhance cartilage repair and stimulates chondrocyte proliferation and matrix biosynthesis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of subcutaneous PRP injection on improving the viability of cartilage grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six circular cartilage grafts were obtained from auricular cartilages of 6 New Zealand white rabbits. Cartilage grafts were prepared in 3 forms: block, crushed, and crushed/wrapped with Surgicel (Surgical, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ). Grafts were placed to 6 dorsal subcutaneous pockets and pockets were closed. Autologous PRP was prepared and injected subcutaneously into the pockets of experiment groups. At the end of 8 weeks, cartilage grafts were removed. Cartilage mass reduction rates were measured. Resorption rates of cartilage grafts and formation of fibroelastic and bone tissue were microscopically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the cartilage grafts lost significant weight. Viability scores of block cartilages were higher than crushed cartilages. Although less weight loss rates and higher histopathologic scores were obtained in subcutaneously PRP injected cartilage graft groups, these results were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our study gives a new insight about increasing the viability of cartilage grafts, the subcutaneous PRP injection did not result in improving the viability of cartilage grafts in this experimental design.
authors.affiliation: *Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital †Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery ‡Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Gazi University, Ankara §Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bulam
authors.forename: Suhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Guldal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Billur
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sezgin
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sibar
authors.forename: Serhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Findikcioglu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Latifoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D006085:Graft Survival; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011817:Rabbits; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*