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Comparing Resorption in a Rabbit Model

Bruce V. Lattyak, MD; Corey S. Maas, MD; Jonathan M. Sykes, MD

Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2003;5:240-243.

Objective  To compare the resorption characteristics of dorsal onlay cartilage autografts from the septum, auricle, and rib.

Methods  Fourteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent harvesting of equal-sized septal, auricular, and costal cartilage grafts free of perichondrium. All autografts were implanted subcutaneously on the nasal dorsum and then removed after 3 months. Graft mass, chondrocyte density, and histologic features from hematoxylin-eosin–stained sections were compared before and 3 months after implantation.

Results  At 3 months after implantation, septal cartilage grafts averaged 30.8% resorption by weight, followed by auricular (23.1%) and costal (7.6%) cartilage. All 3 groups demonstrated similar changes in chondrocyte density and minor calcification at 3 months. There was no evidence of necrosis or inflammatory changes in any of the specimens.

Conclusions  Although the septum is often the preferred source of autogenous cartilage for nasal reconstruction, short-term resorption of septal cartilage appears to be higher for dorsal onlay grafts. The low resorption of costal cartilage may be due in part to its compact shape compared with septal and auricular cartilage. It remains to be seen whether these differences in resorption persist in the long term.

From the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (Drs Lattyak and Maas); and Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento (Dr Sykes). Dr Lattyak is currently in private practice in Paget, Bermuda.

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