Biomechanical properties of the costal cartilage and its significance in the timing of ear reconstruction / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the age-related change in biomechanical properties of the costal cartilage and its relevance to the timing of ear reconstruction with costal cartilage framework.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients of 5 to 25 years old were divided into three groups according to their age. The biomechanical properties of costal cartilage harvested from these patients during ear reconstruction were tested, including stree-strain relationship, stress relaxation and creep, tensile strength. All the results were analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The costal cartilage from children group had the best biomechanical properties, while the costal cartilage from the adolescent group had the worst. The difference had a statistically significance (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The biomechanical properties of costal cartilage are age-related. So it is recommended that ear reconstruction with costal cartilage framework should be performed in childhood when the costal cartilage has the best biomechanical properties.</p>