A Comparison between the Absorption Rate of Unwrapped and Wrapped Diced Cartilage in Rabbit

Introduction & In recent years the use of diced cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty have been considered by most plastic surgeons. For preventing dispersion of diced cartilages، many authors recommend the use of various wrapping such as temporalis fascia، surgicel or alloderm to cover diced cartilage grafts. The aim of this study is to compare the absorption rate and viability of cartilage autograft between two groups of unwrapped and fascia wrapped diced cartilage graft. In this study، 15 rabbits، of age between 12 to 16 weeks of age were used. One ear of each rabbit was excised and denuded of skin and perichondrium، then it was divided into two equal pieces and were diced. One group of the grafts were covered by rabbit fascia Lata and the other group left was without coverage. Two subcutaneous pockets were created on each side of lumbar vertebrae. After precise weighing of specimens، wrapped and unwrapped diced cartilages were implanted into separate pockets on the each side rabbit vertebra coloumn. After 12 weeks، the grafts were removed and weighed precisely and samples were stained with H&E and were examined histologically by pathologit. The absorption rate of fascia wrapped diced cartilage grafts was significantly more than the case of unwrapped diced cartilage grafts (P-value < 0. 001). Unwrapped diced cartilage graft had some growth، but it wasn’t statistically significant (P-value = 0. 09). New cartilage formation in the unwrapped group was significantly more than the case of fascia wrapped group (P-value = 0. 001). But in terms of cartilage integrity، cartilage viability، fibrosis and ossification no significant difference was found between two groups. Our study objectively proves that wrapping around implanted diced cartilage graft may act as a barrier and impedes nutrients to reach to the chondrocytes. Since there was no resorption in the unwrapped diced cartilage group، we recommend it as a good method for restoring profile in rhinoplasty surgery.