KBB-Forum 2021 , Cilt 20, Sayı 2

BIOMECHANICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL FEATURES OF COSTAL CARTILAGE GRAFT IN A RABBIT MODEL: COMPARATIVE RESULTS WITH THREE MONTHS OF FOLLOW-UP

Elad AZİZLİ 1, MD; Zeynep ALKAN 2, MD; Aylin BEKEM 3, MD; Ahmet Unal UNAL 3, MD; Nevra DURSUN 4, MD; Ozgur YİGİT 5, MD;
1Private Akif Mehmetoğlu Outpatient Clinic, Otolaryngology Specialist, Istanbul, Turkey
2Department of Otolaryngology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
3Department of Metalurgical and Materials Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey Objective: In this study, histological and biomechanical characteristics of rabbit rib cartilage used as a nasal dorsal graft were investigated.

Material and Method: This prospective animal study included 8 male New Zealand rabbits. After harvesting rib cartilage, the graft was placed in the subperiosteal pocket made on the nasal dorsum. Contralateral 7th costal cartilages were also harvested as controls. On the third month after the procedure, the cartilage grafts and contralateral controls were removed and subjected to 3-point bending test. Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections were also used to evaluate chondrocyte viability and the status of the chondroid tissue.

Results: There was no statistical difference between the dimensions (thickness and width) of nasal dorsal graft and 7th costal cartilage. The flexural strength of the contralateral 7th costal cartilage and the number of viable chondrocyte cells were found to be significantly higher compared to nasal dorsal grafts (p=0.028, p=0.027, respectively)

Conclusion: Although we did not determine any significant reduction with time in the dimensions of costal cartilage grafts used in nasal surgery, it seems that biomechanical characteristics are altered as identified by the reduction in viable chondrocyte count and flexural strength. Keywords : Costal cartilage, nasal dorsal graft, rabbit model