Reconstruction of Tracheal Defects with Dehydrated Human Costal Cartilage: An Experimental Study in Rats

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Abstract
Reconstruction of tracheal defects continues to be a difficult problem in head and neck surgery. In this study, to evaluate the outcomes of tracheal reconstruction with a nonautogenous material, we used solvent‐dehydrated human costal cartilage in 3 different forms: graft, neovascularized graft, and prefabricated free flap. Thirty‐five Sprague‐Dawley rats were distributed into 3 groups with 10 animals in groups 1,10 in group 2, and 15 in group 3. Surgically created tracheal defects were repaired with a free cartilage graft in group 1, and a piece of cartilage was neovascularized for 3 weeks in the inguinal region and then used as a fibrovascular tissue‐coated cartilage graft in group 2. In group 3, the neovascularized cartilage was transferred to the defect as a prefabricated free flap based on a vascular pedicle containing femoral vessels. Four weeks later, the tracheal reconstruction specimens were evaluated with light microscopy to determine cartilage survival, infection, and epithelial regrowth. The most favorable outcomes were obtained in group 3, where the material was used as a prefabricated neovascularized free flap.

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