Autologous elastic cartilage for laryngoplasty: histologic evaluation in a rabbit model

A wide range of materials have been used to achieve medialization of the paralyzed vocal fold. Recently, medialization techniques using autologous cartilage have been described, but little information is available on cartilage integration and viability in this situation. In this prospective, experimental, controlled study, right vocal fold paralysis was surgically induced in 30 New Zealand rabbits. An autologous auricular cartilage transplant was inserted in the vocal fold in 15 animals. In the control group, only the laryngeal nerve was sectioned. Each group was divided into two groups with follow-ups of 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. Histologic studies revealed no inflammatory reaction against the cartilage transplants. There were no differences in the transplant surfaces in the 6-week and 6-month groups. The results show tissue integration and a low level of initial transplant resorption that stabilizes with time. Autologous auricular cartilage appears to be an appropriate material for type I thyroplasty procedures because of the low absorption rate.