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The diced cartilage glue graft for nasal augmentation. Morphometric evidence of longevity
Abel-Jan Tasman1, Pierre-André Diener, Ralph Litschel
1Rhinology and Facial Plastic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, St Gallen, Switzerland. abel-jan.tasman@kssg.ch
Background:
A grafting technique that uses diced cartilage without fascia, which improves formability while maintaining long-term stability, would be a welcome addition to the rhinoplasty armamentarium.
Methods:
A diced cartilage glue graft was recently introduced as the Tasman technique. The technique has been used by one of us (A.-J.T.) in 28 patients who were monitored clinically for 4 to 26 months. Sonographic morphometry of the graft was used in 10 patients with a maximum follow-up of 15 months, and 2 biopsies were obtained for histologic examination.
Results:
Fashioning the diced cartilage glue graft reduced operating time compared with the diced cartilage fascia graft and allowed for a wide variety of transplant shapes and sizes, depending on the mold used. All grafts were used for augmentation of the nasal dorsum or radix and healed uneventfully. Sonographic cross-section measures of the grafts changed between 6% and –29%(median, –5%) in the early postoperative phase and 8%and –7% (median, –2%) between 3 and 15 months after insertion. Histologic examination of the graft biopsies revealed viable cartilage with signs of regeneration.
Conclusion:
The diced cartilage glue graft may become an attractive alternative to accepted methods for dorsal augmentation, the diced cartilage fascia graft in particular.
