Role of Fresh Frozen Cartilage in Revision Rhinoplasty

Background: Correction of secondary nasal deformities frequently requires cartilage to build the framework of the nose. Traditionally, autologous costal cartilage has been used because of the paucity of the septal cartilage. Because of associated donor-site complications and increased operating time, irradiated allografts have been used. These grafts have a higher rate of resorption and infection. Thus, the authors have used fresh frozen, nonirradiated, cadaveric rib cartilage as donor cartilage to avoid these shortcomings, and they present their early experience. Methods: The operative data of 50 patients who underwent secondary rhinoplasty performed by the senior author between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed. The outcomes of the rhinoplasty were evaluated by preoperative and postoperative photographs by four blinded plastic surgeons, and the results were tabulated using the Independent Rhinoplasty Outcome Score. Results: Fifty patients were followed up over an average period of 3.35 months (range, 1 to 18 months). There was only one complication (infection, 2 percent), which did not need revision surgery. There was no warping or extrusion in this cohort. Conclusions: The authors believe that fresh frozen, nonirradiated cartilage allografts are an evolving source of donor cartilage grafts for revision rhinoplasty because they are associated with lower complication rates. However, further long-term studies with an increased sample size are necessary to prove that fresh frozen cartilage grafts are better than other sources.