MORSELIZED CARTILAGE GRAFT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE AREA AND PERIMETER MEASUREMENTS OF THIS VERSATILE OPTION FOR MODERN RHINOPLASTY

Abstract

Introduction: One of the biggest issues in the field of rhinoplasty is the use of grafts, one of which is the morselized cartilage graft. Few studies to date have sought to demonstrate the changes in size suffered by cartilage after the morselization process. Objective: To compare changes in area and perimeter of septal and auricular cartilages after being submitted to two degrees of morselization. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, comparative, and analytical study. Septum and ear cartilages were separated into two groups: Septal Cartilage Group (SCG) and Auricular Cartilage Group (ACG), and evaluated in their intact, and morselized grades 1 and 2 forms. Area and perimeter measurements were taken and compared. Results: A total of 29 cartilages were analyzed, being 20 septal and 9 auricular. There was a significant increase in the measurements in the SCG according to the degree of morselization. Similar results were also obtained in the ACG, but only with a tendency towards significance. When comparing the two groups, no significant differences were identified. Discussion: Morselized cartilages are important options in rhinoplasty. The increase in the degree of morselization leads to larger grafts, but it is also linked to a decrease in cartilage viability. Despite being structurally distinct, auricular and septal cartilages showed a similar behavior of their measurements after morselization. Such information can help surgeons in choosing their grafts, providing more predictable results. Conclusion: Morselization leads to an increase in the area and perimeter of the cartilage, being greater according to the degree of the process, without significant differences between grafts of septal and auricular origin.