The role of perichondrium in modifying curved cartilage: an experimental study

A study of 11 strips of curved cartilage harvested from 11 pigs' ears was undertaken to compare quantitatively the forces required to bend the strips before and after modification. The results show no statistical difference between the intact curvature and curvature produced when skin and perichondrium were resutured over 4 full-thickness, cartilaginous crosscuts. These in vitro findings suggest that, when one attempts to modify the shape of curved cartilage, lasting results may be obtained by shortening the convex surface length using a wedge excision method. The perichondrium is incised on the concave surface or the surface that will become longer with cartilage scoring, such as in otoplasty. If the cartilage surface will require elongation for ultimate straightening, the perichondrium as well as the cartilage must be incised.