The fate of fresh, layered, nonsutured and sutured, autogenous cartilage in the rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE To compare the thickness, area, and volume of sutured and nonsutured multilayered cartilage grafts in a rabbit population. DESIGN Autogenous rabbit cartilage grafts were harvested, layered, and placed in the contralateral auricle. Half the grafts were sutured; the other half were nonsutured. Graft thickness, area, and volume were measured before implantation, after 90 days in vivo, and after explantation. RESULTS The area and volume of the cartilage grafts increased during the 90-day period. Histologically, this was caused by increased fibrous tissue around the cartilage grafts. Minimal cartilage resorption was observed. No differences were noted between sutured and nonsutured grafts. CONCLUSIONS Autogenous, fresh, uncrushed, layered nonsutured or sutured cartilage grafts are well tolerated. Statistically significant increases in the area and volume of autogenous, fresh, uncrushed, layered cartilage grafts occurred primarily because of fibrous tissue formation at the margins of the layered grafts. Suturing had no effect on the postoperative volume retention of these layered grafts. This information will be helpful to the facial plastic surgeon when using fresh-layered autogenous cartilage grafts during cosmetic or reconstructive procedures. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2000;2:256-259