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Viability and Biomechanics of Bare Diced Cartilage Grafts in Experimental Study
Jun-Lin Liao1, Jia Chen, Jia-Qin Xu
1*Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha†Departments of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Hainan People's Hospital, Haikou‡Department of Pharmacology, Central South University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha§Center of Medical Cosmetology, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang||Departments of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Ningxiang People's Hospital, Ningxiang¶Department of Oncology#Department of Rehabilitation, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Objective:
To assess the viability and biomechanics of bare diced cartilage grafts.
Methods:
Cartilage samples were collected from 1 ear in 15 rabbits as well as costal cartilage. Each rabbit was inserted bare diced- and single-strip costal-cartilage grafts, respectively, into paraspinal subcutaneous pockets: after euthanasia at 2 months, specimens were weighed, with diced cartilage grafts examined histomorphologically by hematoxylin-eosin staining, masson trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry. Finally, biomechanical properties of grafts were assessed.
Results:
Bare diced cartilage grafts were connected into an integrated mass after 2 months, and inward growth of fibrous tissues and angiogenesis were observed. Mean wet weights of diced cartilage grafts were 1.603 ± 0.278 and 1.662 ± 0.204 g pre- and postoperation, respectively; those of costal cartilage grafts were 0.053 ± 0.008 and 0.058 ± 0.008 g, respectively. In compression assays, mean modulus values of elasticity at yield in diced- and costal-cartilage grafts were 7.65 ± 0.59 and 22.30 ± 1.15 MPa, respectively (P < 0.05); mean stress values were 4.07 ± 0.38 and 12.50 ± 1.15 MPa, respectively (P < 0.05). In the tensile test, mean modulus values of elasticity at yield of diced- and costal-cartilage grafts were 4.70 ± 0.78 and 10.59 ± 1.39 MPa, respectively (P < 0.05), mean stress values were 0.82 ± 0.05 and 1.76 ± 0.21 MPa, respectively (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Diced cartilage grafts had favorable viability and growth. Despite reduced elasticity and stress values, they still can be served as substitute for supportive filling materials.
