Cartilage Grafts

Cartilage grafts can be used as supportive adjuncts in reconstruction surgery. They are autografts, prone to warping and are slow to heal due to a lack of blood supply.
Cartilage Grafts


Cartilage Grafts

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5 Key Points

1. Cartilage is an avascular structure of type II collagen, elastin & ground substance.
2. Cartilage grafts are classified as autografts, allografts and xenografts.
3. Autografts are the gold standard, whilst allografts and xenografts are rarely used due to immunogenicity and resorption.
4. Cartilage warping is the main complication and relates to Gibson's principle.
5. Cartilage has no intrinsic blood supply so healing is by fibrosis.


Cartilage Graft Anatomy

Key Point:

Cartilage originates from the mesenchyme and forms as chondroblasts transform into chondrocytes. There are different types of cartilage and an innate lack of blood supply.

Types of Cartilage

Cartilage is composed of type II collagen, elastin and ground substance in a dense extracellular matrix. The proportionally large volume of water provides the cartilage structure.

These components constitute the different types of cartilage:

  • Hyaline Cartilage
  • Fibrocartilage
  • Elastic cartilage

Vascularity

Cartilage is avascular and has a relatively low metabolic rate. This means it is resistant to some aspects of surgery (such as ischaemia) but less forgiving in other parts (slow healing).

  • There is no cartilaginous intrinsic blood supply
  • It receives nutrition via the diffusion of nutrients and oxygen.
  • A lack of blood supply impairs healing and is usually fibrous in nature.


Cartilage Graft Types

Key Point:

In a similar fashion to bone grafts, cartilage grafts can be classified as autografts, allografts or xenografts. Generally speaking, the latter two options have limited success.

Cartilage Autografts

Cartilage autografts (from the patient) are considered the "gold standard" for reconstruction.

Common donor sites include:

  • Costal cartilage
  • Conchal Bowl
  • Cartilaginous nasal septum

Cartilage grafts can be from the costal cartilage, conchal bowl or cartilaginous septum
Cartilage graft donor sites

Cartilage Non-Autografts

Cartilage allografts and xenografts are less commonly used. Here's why:

  • Allografts undergo rejection and resorption over a long period of time
  • Xenografts are immunogenic even after processing.


Cartilage Warping

Key Point:

A significant limitation of cartilage is warping. This is the tendency of cartilage to change shape over a period of time. It relates to the Gibson principle.

Cartilage warping is the unwanted informational change that occurs after cartilage grafting due to a change in mechanical forces.

When cartilage is scored it will curve away from the scored side. This is important for cartilage warping and cartilage grafts
Gibson Principle for Cartilage Scoring

There have been methods described to reduce the risk of warping

  1. Gibson Principle: scoring of the cartilage will result in warping in the other direction (it curves towards the intact side) (Gibson et al, 1957)
  2. Delayed inset after cartilage harvest
  3. Perichondrial preservation to reduce tension is less commonly practised now.

Unlike bone grafts, there is less resorption and more easily shaped.

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Tip: Cartilage warps away from the injured surface. The extent of the warping is dependent on the extent of scoring.


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