Survival of composite chondrocutaneous grafts by vessel implantation: a study in the rabbit ear model

Composite chondrocutaneous graft reconstruction or reattachment has limited applicability, is traditionally restricted to small segmental losses, and is dependent on the status of the recipient bed and graft periphery for successful revascularization. Surgical enhancement of composite graft survival was experimentally investigated in the rabbit ear model through transposition and appositional placement of an adjacent vascular pedicle. Fluorescein-derived surface-survival determinations, microangiographic vessel-counting methods, and histologic analysis were used to study the effects of vascular augmentation, pedicle design variations, and angiogenic substance in sixty 8-cm2, full-thickness auricular grafts. A statistically significant survival advantage was demonstrated for the implanted grafts, secondary to perivascular angiogenesis from the implanted pedicle.