Clinical study of chest development after costal cartilage harvesting in children / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the development of the chest wall after costal cartilage harvesting in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-nine patients, who underwent microtia reconstruction with costal cartilage grafts, were examined in the donor-site with physical examination and radiography. Forty normal children were selected as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in size between the bilateral chests, and compared to the control. The rib deformity in each donor site was not observed on the radiography.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The costal cartilage harvesting in children has no significant evidence to influence the development of the chest wall.</p>