Curving effect of scarification or unilateral perichondrial lining on septal cartilage from human autopsy material

From 20 cadavers septal cartilage was removed within 48 hours of death. From each cartilage four strips were prepared, two with preserved perichondrium on one surface and the other two not. On one strip from each group scarification was performed through about half the cartilage thickness. The curving of the cartilage strips was measured immediately after scarification and 5 h thereafter. The 17 mm. long strips showed a mean curving due to the scarification of 1.06 mm., 80 per cent of which occurred immediately after the scarification. It was demonstrated also that a unilaterally intact perichondrial lining per se entailed a curving averaging 0.52 mm., an effect which did not occur within the course of 5 h. Both effects were highly significant. It was not possible to demonstrate any correlation between these effects and donor age, cartilage thickness or orientation in the septum.