GROWTH-POTENTIAL OF AUTOGENOUS CARTILAGE GRAFTS IN EXPANDED SKIN - ANEXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN RABBITS

The effect of tissue expansion on the growth potential of autogenous c artilage grafts was studied in 10-day-old New Zealand white rabbits. T he rabbits were divided into two groups: In Group 1 (n = 12) after 2 w eeks of tissue expansion by using a 10-ml tissue expander, a cranially based 4 x 4-cm dorsal skin flap was raised and a 1 x 1-cm autogenous cartilage graft from the midportion of the left ear was transplanted b eneath the flap in each rabbit. In Group 2 (n = 12) elevation of dorsa l skin flaps and transplantation of the grafts were performed in the s ame way but without a previous tissue expansion. The grafts were remov ed at 30 and 60 days after transplantation in both groups, for histolo gical examination and measurement of the dimensional changes to determ ine the growth rate. In both groups, histological examination revealed characteristic findings for cartilage growth, however, Group 1 (expan sion) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the growth of cartilage grafts when compared with Group 2 (control) (p = 0.0001). The results of this study indicate, from the standpoint of acceptance and growth potential of autogenous cartilage framework, that there is no drawback to using this tissue expansion technique for reconstructi on of the ear in childhood.