Rib Cartilage in Rhinoplasty Surgery?

I have recently stumbled across a blog entry on rib cartilage written by Drs. Litner & Solieman In their short overview of cartilage grafts, they state that in the absence of sufficient septal cartilage their preference of graft material would be irradiated donor rib cartilage as opposed to one's own rib cartilage. My question is, why not use irradiated donor septal cartilage before harvesting donor rib cartilage, knowing its shortcomings?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by misslila2

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Using rib cartilage in rhinoplasty

It really depends on the needs of the patient and the purpose of the cartilage. In general, autologous cartilage (cartilage harvested from your own body) is the best grafting material to restore the framework of your nose. Septal cartilage is my first choice. But in many cases, there may not be enough available, or the cartilage from the septum may be compromised. Using a PDS plate with ear cartilage is now a good choice, and can be a second option after septal cartilage.... more

Use of irradiated rib versus other cartilage in rhinoplasty

There is a variation among surgeons about their preferred cartilage graft source. Ear cartilage is not always strong (or straight) enough to use for certain rhinoplasty maneuvers. Many surgeons have very good long term results with irradiated donor rib cartilage whereas other surgeon prefer using a patient's own rib if possible. Another factor is that ribn cartilage calcifies with time such that the rib cartilage in those who are older (e.g., 60 or 70 year old) may be too calcified to... more

Rhinoplasty - Cartilage Harvest

In the absence of sufficient septal cartilage, I generally will go to harvest ear cartilage. In the case of revision rhinoplasty, I may need to harvest the patient's rib cartilage. I prefer to use cartilage from within the patient's own body. Please consult with a board certified specialist who can best assist you in achieving the results you seek.

Rib Cartilage in Rhinoplasty Surgery

In the absence of septal cartilage I prefer to use ear cartilage in most cases. There are problems with the survival of irradiated cartilage and therefore I feel the patient's own rib cartilage is better despite the fact that the patient will have discomfort after the harvesting of that cartilage.