ABSTRACT
Auricle is frequently used as a donor site of autogenous cartilage graft, but a lot of cartilage donation can make auricular deformity. In various animal studies, perichondrium has been described as the source of new cartilage. However, if any cartilage was formed, the amount was variable and limited. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Alloderm, Chitosan mesh and Gelfoam as a template for chondrogenesis at the donor site of auricular cartilage graft and to compare the effect of single layer perichondrium and double layer perichondrium in chondrogenesis. In each experimental group, one of Alloderm, Chitosan mesh and Gelfoam were implanted at the donor site of cartilage graft in New Zealand White rabbits(n = 18) into two groups. In group I(n = 9), both(ventral & dorsal) sides perichondrium were preserved and in group II(n = 9) only one(ventral) side perichondrium was preserved. Each 3 rabbits were sacrificed at 3, 8 weeks, postoperatively. Formation of neocartilage was evaluated with histological examination. Neocartilage was formed in all control and implanted sites. Templates wrapped with perichondrium groups generated much more neocartilage than control group and there was little difference among each template groups. These results indicat that the amount and regeneration velocity of neocartilage may be controlled by implantation of templates. The template serves as an inducer for the perichondrium to produce chondrogenic cells and serves as a scaffold for the cartilage differentiation. Therefore templates may be helpful in decreasing auricular deformity after graft donation of auricular cartilage and in correcting other structural defects that also require new cartilage formation.