Two New Polymers as Candidates for Rhinoplasty Allografts: An Experimental Study in a Rabbit Model

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the biocompatibility and tensile strength of two new polymeric materials - a polyfluoro ether modified thermoplastic polyurethane urea and a polydimethyl silicone elastomer in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: The two polymers were implanted inside separate subperichondrial pockets created over the auricular cartilages of 12 rabbits. A control pocket received no implant. After 3 months, the animals were painlessly sacrificed, and each site was analyzed histologically for vascular congestion, acute and chronic inflammation, and fibrosis in the tissue surrounding the implant materials. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in vascular congestion, fibrosis, or acute or chronic inflammation between the control sites and either implant site. Conclusions: These results suggest that the polymers are well accepted by the tissue and remain stable during the entire study period, and that they could be very suitable materials for use in nasal reconstruction.