The Comparison of Survival of Diced, Crushed, and Block Ear Cartilage Grafts in Rabbit

Abstract

Background: Cartilage grafts are used in plastic surgery in restorations that require strength. Due to varying degrees of strength in these regenerations, cartilage grafts from different sources are used in block, crushed, and diced forms. The aim of this study was to compare the survival rate of in crushed, diced, and block autograft cartilage forms of rabbit ear. Methods: This study was performed on 36 New Zealand white male rabbits weighing 2000 to 2500 grams and aged 12 to 16 weeks. The cartilage of the right ear of each rabbit was harvested, and three graft samples of crushed, diced, and block forms were obtained. The grafts were put in three separate subcutaneous envelopes adjacent to the rabbit’s backbone. After 3 months, the specimens were removed, stained with hematoxylin and eosinophil (H & E), and histologically examined. Findings: The mean graft weight increased in all groups using crushed, diced, and block cartilage forms, but it was not statistically significant. There was a significant difference between the different methods in terms of the amount of fibrosis (P = 0.002), ossification (P < 0.001), and chondrocyte (P = 0.002); so that the percentage of the live chondrocytes was significantly higher in the block group. Conclusion: Results show that block cartilage grafts are more reliable than diced and crushed types in the formation of various facial and nasal regions.

Keywords

• Cartilage
• Autograft
• Survival rate