[Articular reconstructions by a costochondral grafting (or osteochondral costal grafting)]

We describe a novel technique of costochondral autografting for the treatment of trapeziometacarpal arthritis, radioscaphoid osteoarthritis, malunion of the distal end of the radius, and osteoarticular loss of the MP joints of long fingers. The costal graft harvest technique is always the same. A 5-cm horizontal incision is made over the 9th rib, and the rib is exposed at the osteocartilaginous junction. Cartilaginous grafts are harvested with a scalpel, and osteocartilaginous grafts with a saw. Since 1992, 116 patients with trapezio-metacarpal arthritis have been treated by partial trapeziectomy and autologous rib cartilage grafting. One hundred patients were reviewed with an average follow-up of 5.6 years. The results were better than those of trapeziectomy with tendon interposition or ligamentous reconstruction, owing to good stability of the thumb ray height. For the treatment of radioscaphoid osteoarthritis following scaphoid non union or chronic scapholunate instability, partial carpal arthrodesis and resection of the first row are the classical techniques. As an alternative to these procedures, 18 patients were treated by resection of the proximal portion of the scaphoid and insertion of an osteochondral costal autograft. Mean follow-up is 4.1 years. The results are excellent or good in 15 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case (luxation of the graft). Four patients with articular malunion of the distal radius received an osteocartilaginous costal graft to reconstruct the articular surface of the radius while avoiding partial or total arthrodesis of the wrist. Four patients with segmental osteoarticular loss of the longfingers were treated with the same technique, thereby avoiding silicone arthroplasty. We review the literature on cartilaginous rib grafts in maxillofajcial and orthopaedic surgery. In our experience, MRI and biopsy show viable cartilage but also histologic changes such as revascularization, fibrous transformation and bone metaplasia.