Dorsal onlay cartilage autografts: comparing resorption in a rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE To compare the resorption characteristics of dorsal onlay cartilage autografts from the septum, auricle, and rib. METHODS Fourteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent harvesting of equal-sized septal, auricular, and costal cartilage grafts free of perichondrium. All autografts were implanted subcutaneously on the nasal dorsum and then removed after 3 months. Graft mass, chondrocyte density, and histologic features from hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections were compared before and 3 months after implantation. RESULTS At 3 months after implantation, septal cartilage grafts averaged 30.8% resorption by weight, followed by auricular (23.1%) and costal (7.6%) cartilage. All 3 groups demonstrated similar changes in chondrocyte density and minor calcification at 3 months. There was no evidence of necrosis or inflammatory changes in any of the specimens. CONCLUSIONS Although the septum is often the preferred source of autogenous cartilage for nasal reconstruction, short-term resorption of septal cartilage appears to be higher for dorsal onlay grafts. The low resorption of costal cartilage may be due in part to its compact shape compared with septal and auricular cartilage. It remains to be seen whether these differences in resorption persist in the long term.