Processed costal cartilage homograft in rhinoplasty: the Asan Medical Center experience.

Objective: To report our experience using a commercially available homograft (Tutoplast-processed costal cartilage [TPCC]; Tutogen Medical GmbH, Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany) in augmentation rhinoplasty.

Methods: Retrospective review. Methods: Tertiary care academic center. Methods: The study population comprised 35 patients who underwent rhinoplasty with TPCC between November 2003 and October 2004. Methods: The TPCCs were used for full-length dorsal grafts in all 35 patients, as well as for septal batten, spreader graft, septal extension, tip onlay, and shield grafts. Methods: Surgical outcomes were evaluated in 35 patients who underwent rhinoplasty in which TPCC was used. Anthropometric measurements of the nose were made on lateral photographs and compared with preoperative measurements. Postoperative complications were also assessed.

Results: Anthropometric measurements, expressed as mean (SD), documented postoperative increases in tip projection (5% [9%]), nasal length (10% [10%]), nasolabial angle (1.5 degrees [8.7 degrees ]), and nasofrontal angle (3.1 degrees [8.7 degrees ]). The overall complication rate was 31% (11 of 35 patients). Complications included resorption (17%), warping (9%), visible graft contour (3%), and graft fracture (3%).

Conclusions: Although TPCC could serve as an alternative graft material for rhinoplasty, the high complication rates of this material may preclude its use for dorsal augmentation.