Viability and Biomechanics of Bare Diced Cartilage Grafts in Experimental Study.

Objective: To assess the viability and biomechanics of bare diced cartilage grafts. Methods: Cartilage samples were collected from 1 ear in 15 rabbits as well as costal cartilage. Each rabbit was inserted bare diced- and single-strip costal-cartilage grafts, respectively, into paraspinal subcutaneous pockets: after euthanasia at 2 months, specimens were weighed, with diced cartilage grafts examined histomorphologically by hematoxylin-eosin staining, masson trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry. Finally, biomechanical properties of grafts were assessed. Results: Bare diced cartilage grafts were connected into an integrated mass after 2 months, and inward growth of fibrous tissues and angiogenesis were observed. Mean wet weights of diced cartilage grafts were 1.603 +/- 0.278 and 1.662 +/- 0.204 g pre- and postoperation, respectively; those of costal cartilage grafts were 0.053 +/- 0.008 and 0.058 +/- 0.008 g, respectively. In compression assays, mean modulus values of elasticity at yield in diced- and costal-cartilage grafts were 7.65 +/- 0.59 and 22.30 +/- 1.15 MPa, respectively (P

http://ift.tt/2mOo8JD