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Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Tissue Characterization after a New Disaggregation Method for Skin Micro-Grafts Generation
Published on: March 4, 2016
Free dermofat grafting for chest deformity in microtia reconstruction
Yang Yang1, Xiaowei Yue1, Xiaobo Yu1
1Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, China.
Objective:
Chest deformity is one of the complications that occurs after costal cartilage harvesting for auricle reconstruction. In this study, we presented a novel method of free dermofat grafting to repair cartilage defect and aimed to evaluate its effect in ameliorating chest deformity.
Methods:
Seventy-six pediatric patients were included in the study, comprising free dermofat grafting group (n = 38) and control group (n = 38). After harvesting costal cartilage, empty perichondrial space of right seventh costal cartilage was filled with free dermofat grafts in free dermofat grafting group. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) was performed three months after surgery and 3D colormap quantification was performed to quantify chest surface asymmetry. The quantified data were further analyzed to compare chest asymmetry level in free dermofat grafting and control groups.
Results:
In the free dermofat grafting group, the mean of asymmetry level was 2.2 mm. While in the control group, the mean of asymmetry was 5.7 mm. After a comparison between the two groups, the level of asymmetry showed a significant difference (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Free dermofat grafting method is easy to perform and a feasible option for ameliorating chest deformity in microtia reconstruction.
