Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Cartilage grafts is one integral component in the various fields of plastic surgery particular rhinoplasty. Surgeons usually use from various sources, including the septum of the nose, ears and rib. Complications such deformity and reabsorbtion may be created with use of the cartilage. Area of the removal of cartilage can prevent these complications. The aim of this study was to compare the absorption rate and viability of cartilage autograft between two common donor site, the rib and the concha.

Methods: This experimental study was performed on October 2014 in animal laboratory of Hazrat Fatima Hospital, Tehran, Iran. In this study, 15 New Zealand white male rabbits, weighing 2000-2500 g, approximately 12 to 16 weeks of age were used. In each rabbit, a piece of one ear and one cartilage was excised. After careful weighting of grafts, we implanted the rib cartilage graft into the left pocket and the conchal cartilage graft into the right one. After 8 weeks, the grafts were removed and weighed precisely and photography was carried out. The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin solution for histologic examination was. An example of hematoxylin and eosin staining and cut (H&E) were performed and samples of live chondrocytes and fibrosis were examined by a pathologist.

Results: We lost 3 rabbits during our study. The results showed that the average weight of a graft from the ear within 2 months, but this increase was not statistically significant (P= 0.152). In the rib graft weight loss over 2 months, and this reduction was statistically significant (P= 0.009). The resorption between two group was not significant but the amount of fibrosis was more in conchal cartilage graft.

Conclusion: According to the study it can be concluded that absorption rib cartilage is somewhat better results than the cartilage of the ear. More studies, in addition to cartilage implants longer human studies can contribute to more accurate conclusions.