[Long term experience of using preserved cartilage in reconstructive surgery of the nose (author's transl)]

Long term experience of nasal surgery using cartilage homografts preserved in merthiolate shows the implants to have the following properties: 1. They heal without complications and are well tolerated. 2. Rate of resorption varies according to the quality of the recipient site and the stresses on it from outside. 3. Very suitable for support to replace resected or destroyed cartilage. 4. Limited use in reconstructing weight bearing areas because of unduly high resorption rate in 50% of implanted struts. 5. No clinical evidence of resorption in areas not subject to stress. 6. Resorption in areas of stress varies from a virtual absence to a rapid process.