Experimental Study of the Biological Outcome After Free Transplantation of Autologous Auricular Cartilage

Auricular cartilage is widely used in rhinoplasty, but there are few studies on its biological changes after transplantation.

This study investigated the biological transition of cartilage free grafts with and without perichondrium, aiming to provide some theoretical basis for the selection of nasal cartilage stent.

Spare auricular cartilage from 14 patients undergoing postoperative auricular cartilage augmentation was prepared into two with-/without-perichondrium cartilage pieces of approximately 5*5 mm, which were implanted into the loose connective tissue layer of the left and right sides of the back of the same nude mouse. The auricular cartilage tissues were harvested 2 months later.

Two months after transplantation, there was no obvious resorption in the with-perichondrium group and a small part of the edge of the without-perichondrium group became dull. The number of chondrocytes before and after transplantation was statistically significant (F = 6.88, P < 0.05). After transplantation, the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes was strongly secreted, and the content of collagen fibers was not significantly changed, but the arrangement showed a tendency of disarrangement and rearrangement, which seems more obvious in the without-perichondrium group. There were significant changes in the expression of collagen II protein in the auricular cartilage matrix before and after transplantation (F = 3.41, P < 0.05).

Autologous auricular cartilage survived well for 2 months after free transplantation, but the internal microstructure changed. The quality of auricular cartilages with perichondrium after transplantation is better than without. The perichondrium can support and protect the transplanted cartilage, so it is advisable to retain perichondrium in clinical rhinoplasty.

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