Injectable chondroplasty: Enzymatic reshaping of cartilage grafts

Characterization of Injury Induced by Routine Surgical Manipulations of Nasal Septal Cartilage

Importance

This study characterizes and compares common surgical manipulations' effects on septal cartilage to understand their implications for rhinoplasty outcomes based on cell viability and cartilage health.

Objective

To illustrate distinct differences in the impact of various surgical manipulations on septal cartilage in an in vitro septal cartilage model. A secondary objective is to better understand the chondrocyte's response to injury as well as how alterations in the extracellular matrix correspond to chondrocyte viability.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this bench-top in vitro porcine model using juvenile bovine septal cartilage from bovine snouts, easily obtainable septal cartilage was used to generate large numbers of homogenous cartilage specimens. Quantitative outcomes at early and late time points were cell viability, cell stress, matrix loss, and qualitative assessment through histologic examination. The study was performed at a single academic tertiary care research hospital.

Interventions

Four common surgical manipulations were contrasted with a control group: crushed cartilage, scored cartilage, diced cartilage, and shaved cartilage.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Following the manipulation of the cartilage, the quantitative outcomes were glycosaminoglycan release to the media, lactate dehydrogenase release to the media, and cell death analysis through apoptosis staining. The qualitative outcomes were histologic staining of the manipulated cartilage with safranin-O/fast green stain to identify proteoglycan loss.

Results

The crushing followed by shaving manipulations were the most damaging as indicated by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase release, glycosaminoglycans loss, and cell death. Matrix loss did not increase until after 48 hours postinjury. Furthermore, chondrocyte death was seen early after injury and accelerated to the late time point, day 9, in all manipulations. Conversely, cell stress was found to be greater at 48 hours postinjury, which then declined to the late time point, day 9.

Conclusions and Relevance

The crushing manipulation followed by shaving and then dicing were the most destructive methods of cartilage manipulation relative to control specimens. Collectively, these outcomes demonstrate the range of injury which occurs with all septal cartilage manipulations and can inform rhinoplasty practice to use the least damaging effective surgical manipulation to obtain the desired outcome.

Level of Evidence

NA.

Newborn Ear Deformities: Early Recognition and Novel Nonoperative Techniques

Congenital auricular anomalies are common sources of aesthetic concern and psychosocial distress for both children and their parents. Only one-third of these anomalies self-correct, leaving a large need for acceptable corrective methods. Otoplasty is often the standard treatment; however, newer nonsurgical methods, including splinting and molding in the neonatal period, have shown favorable results without the complications of surgical intervention and with the advantage of early intervention. These treatment options have not yet been widely adopted in Western countries due to delayed diagnosis of auricular deformities and confusion regarding treatment indications and technique.