To study how to repair the cartilage defect according to the principles of tissue engineering with acellular cartilage matrix as scaffold material. Methods The ear cartilage was obtained from a New Zealand white rabbit(weighing 2.4 kg )and then treated by a modified Courtman’s four-step method to produce the acellular cartilage matrix. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits (aged 6 months, weighing 2.4-2.6 kg) with no sex l imit were divided into three groups. Forevery rabbit, two pieces of ear cartilage measured 1 cm × 1 cm were excised in each ear. Defects were repaired as follows: group A with the combined graft of acellular cartilage matrix and perichondium, group B with acellular cartilage matrix and group C with perichondium. Three animals in each group were killed 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively, respectively. Tissue samples obtained were analyzed with gross observation, hematoxyl in-eosin stain, Safranine O-alcian blue stain and type II collagen messenger RNA in situ hybridization respectively. Results In gross observation, the repaired sites in groups A and B were not change meaningfully in their shape 4 weeks postoperatively; but they felt a bit of thicker and harder 12 weeks postoperatively. In group C two repaired sites formed scabs at 2 weeks and perforated at 5 weeks. In histological observation, there was a sl ight inflammatory reaction surrounding the acellular cartilage matrix 4 weeks after it was implanted in groups A and B. The inflammatory cells were mainly lymphocytes. The perichondrium graft in group C was collapsed in the defects in HE stain. The defect sites were negative for Safranine O-alcian blue stain and type II collagen mRNA in situ hybridization in all groups. At 12 weeks cells were found in the acellular matrix which arranged in irregular manner in group A in HE stain and was positive for Safranine O-alcian blue stain and type II collagen mRNA in site hybridization. In groups B and C, no new cell was found in HE stain and the repaired sites were negative for Safranine O-alcian blue stain and type II collagen mRNA in situ hybridization. Conclusion Acellular
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of nasolabial flap and ear cartilage in repairing defects after nasal ala basal cell carcinoma resection. Methods Between January 2012 and August 2014, 8 patients with nasal ala basal cell carcinoma underwent tumor resection and defect repair with nasolabial flap and ear cartilage. Among the 8 patients, 5 were male and 3 were female, with an average age of 65 years (range, 45-76 years). The left side and right side were involved in 3 cases and 5 cases respectively. Carcinoma confirmed by pathological examination in all patients. The time between first biopsy and resection was 7-14 days (mean, 10 days). The defect ranged from 1.5 cm×1.5 cm to 2.0 cm×1.5 cm after tumor resection, and the size of nasolabial flaps ranged from 4.0 cm×1.5 cm to 5.0 cm×2.0 cm. The operations of cutting off the pedicle and thinning skin flap were performed at 6 months after first operation. Results All flaps survived. Incisions healed by first intention, and no related complication occurred. No carcinoma recurred after cutting off the pedicle. All patients were followed up for 6 months. All patients were satisfied with the nasal contour, symmetrical projection of the alar dome, and no obvious scar. Conclusion Nasolabial flap transfer and ear cartilage transplant method not only can repair the nasal ala defects, but also can avoid obvious scar and obtain good nasal ala contour profile. The shortcoming is that patients have to receive two operations.