Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol (2008) 265:307–311 DOI 10.1007/s00405-007-0455-1 123 RHINOLOGY An animal study on cartilage healing using auricular cartilage as a model Ãlknur Haberal Can · Pergin Atilla · A. Nur Çakar · Metin Önerci Received: 13 June 2007 / Accepted: 10 September 2007 / Published online: 6 October 2007  Springer-Verlag 2007 Abstract We investigated the eVect of diVerent surgical procedures on cartilage healing, using auricular cartilage as a model, which would be useful to create a rationale for septal cartilage surgery. DiVerent kinds of manipulations were performed on the auricular cartilage of six female New Zealand white rabbits. Histopathological investiga- tions were performed under light microscopy 4 months postoperatively. The autologous cartilage grafts survived well under the forehead skin regardless of the presence of the perichondrium. The response of perichondrium to either incomplete or complete trauma was not only new cartilage formation but also ossiWcation. When incomplete incisions were made on the non-perichondrial side, new cartilage for- mation was stimulated whereas ossiWcation was induced when there was perichondrium on the cartilage. If the carti- lage with perichondrium was sliced into small pieces and planted back in its original place, many ossiWcation areas occurred. The crushed cartilage was usually absorbed but sometimes replaced by bony plates. The traumatized carti- lage with perichondrium undergoes ossiWcation. This Wnd- ing may be important clinically in that surgeons should not traumatize septal cartilage with perichondrium and work under the perichondrium. This ossiWcation of traumatized cartilage may later result in thickening of the septal carti- lage which we sometimes face in revision surgery. Keywords Cartilage healing · Auricular cartilage · Nasal septal surgery · Septoplasty Introduction Cartilage healing lies behind many successful interventions in the Weld of otolaryngology such as septoplasty, recon- struction of congenitally or traumatically deformed carti- lage structures in the larynx and outer ear. The healing process of cartilage is the most important issue for all of the above given interventions. In the case of surgical transac- tion or grafting, the reconnection between the separate car- tilaginous parts is crucial for the immediate postoperative appearance as well as the maintenance of a lasting result [9]. This procedure is also important in septal reconstruc- tion as one of the most popular surgical practices in otolar- yngology. In general, many diVerent techniques on septal cartilage are performed to correct septal irregularities dur- ing septal reconstruction. However, none of the known techniques has come to the fore as the best technique. The studies about cartilage graft healing have been mainly done for laryngotracheal reconstruction and sub- glottic stenosis in animal models [2, 3, 6]. On the other hand, there are not many animal studies about cartilage healing for nasal septal reconstruction. In this study a histopathological investigation has attempted to look for the eVects of diVerent procedures on cartilage healing. This study would obviously help to improve surgical technique when cartilage deformities are corrected during septoplasty. Rabbit’s auricular cartilage Ã. Haberal Can (&) Ministry of Health Ankara Education and Research Hospital, ÇamlÂca Bulvar Sitesi, F Blok, and No: 19, Ümitköy, Ankara 06800, Turkey e-mail: haberalcan@gmail.com P. Atilla · A. N. Çakar Department of Histology and Embryology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey M. Önerci Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey