LAUSR

BACKGROUND Research of diced cartilage for rhinoplasty mainly explored the efficacy of wrapped materials, with rare studies on the sizes of diced cartilage. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the viability and stability of various sized free diced cartilage. METHODS The remaining costal cartilage was harvested during rhinoplasties and implanted into subcutaneous pockets on the backs of nude mice: shaved cartilage (group A, n = 8), diced cartilage with a diameter of < 0.5 mm (group B, n = 8), 0.5-1.0 mm (group C, n = 8), and 1.0-1.5 mm (group D, n = 8). After 12 weeks, weight and volume retention rates, histopathological examinations, and biomechanical properties were evaluated. RESULTS Cartilage grafts in groups A and B showed an obvious loss of contour and severe dispersion. The weight and volume of cartilage graft in group A were significantly decreased (all p < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference, group D (122.8 ± 15.4%) achieved the highest weight retention rate compared with groups B and C (114.6 ± 7.1% and 114.3 ± 10.1%, respectively). Group A showed the most apparent chondrocyte nucleus loss with the least peripheral proliferation, and group D showed the best regeneration potential (all p < 0.05). Group C achieved less chondrocyte nucleus loss than group B (p < 0.05). The compressive elastic modulus increased with the diameter of diced cartilage (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Diced cartilage with a diameter of 1.0-1.5 mm may have the highest viability and stability, followed by those of 0.5-1.0 mm and < 0.5 mm.