Cartilage Implantation in Head and Neck Surgery: Report of a National Survey

Abstract

As enthusiasm for alloplastic grafts wanes, the use of biologic materials for facial reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is regaining popularity. A plethora of methods exists for preservation of one of the most popular implants, human cartilage. The con-troversy over the efficacy of autologous v preserved homologous cartilage grafts continues. A national study was developed to determine the efficacy of autologous v the various techniques of cartilage preservation based on the criteria of graft extrusion, infection, and absorption. Autologous grafts were most commonly used. The most popular preservation methods used alcohol or merthiolate. Autologous grafts had less absorption than preserved grafts, but both groups had approximately equivalent infection and extrusion rates. Irradiated cartilage showed the least absorption of all preservation methods.