Reducing the Morbidity Involved in Harvesting Autogenous Rib Cartilage

ABSTRACT

Although the use of autogenous cartilage is the gold standard in auricular reconstruction, its main disadvantage is the morbidity due to harvesting the cartilage. This includes postoperative pain, visible scar, and possibly asymmetry and reduced stability of the thorax. To reduce all of these drawbacks, we describe some modifications that reduce pain to a low tolerable level, hide the scar invisibly in the submammary fold in females, and induce regeneration as well reestablish stability of the rib defect.

KEYWORDS

Auricular reconstruction - autogenous cartilage - malformation - rib cartilage

REFERENCES

• 1 Wilkes G H. Learning to perform ear reconstruction.  Facial Plast Surg. 2009;  25 158-163
• 2 Lindig M, Weerda H, Siegert R. Postoperative Schmerztherapie mittels on-demand-Analgesie nach Ohrmuschelaufbau mit Rippenknorpelentnahme.  Laryngorhinootologie. 1997;  76 379-383
• 3 Magritz R, Siegert R. Die submammäre Inzision zur ausgedehnten Rippenknorpelentnahme.  Laryngorhinootologie. 2005;  84 399-401