Because of the versatility of autologous cartilage and proven advantages, it has been widely used in all kinds of rhinoplasty. Autologous cartilage have good biocompatibility with less complications such as infection, extrusion of graft, compared to biological synthetic materials, so it is generally considered the primary graft for nasal surgery especially septal, conchal and costal cartilage. With the popular clinical application of autologous cartilage, problem also arised and considered.The purpose of this paper is to review the application of autologous cartilage and complications in rhinoplasty.

Objective: To study the tissue size, calcification characteristics and the correlation between calcification and age and lateral side of 6, 7 and 8 costal cartilage in women, so as to provide reference for clinical application. Methods: From the radiology storage center of Second Xiangya Hospital, 70 cases of female costal cartilage were treated with dual-source CT three-dimensional reconstruction. The reconstructed images were treated with maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume reconstruction (VR). The length, width and thickness of bilateral 6, 7 and 8 costal cartilage were measured by VR images, and the correlation between calcification rate, calcification degree, calcification type, calcification location, calcification with age and side was observed and analyzed on VR and MIP images. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 and compared by corresponding statistical method, including independent sample t test, chi-square test, logistic regression analysis and variance analysis. Results: (1) The length of costal cartilage on the left was (98.7 ±12.7) mm, (132.8 ±13.8) mm, (81.5 ±11.6) mm, width (12.6 ±1.5) mm, (11.0 ±1.4) mm, (7.4 ±1.1) mm, thickness (8.1 ±0.5) mm, (7.7 ±0.6) mm, (6.6 ±0.6) mm. On the right side, the length of costal cartilage was (95.8 ±11.3) mm, (133.1 ±12.0) mm, (81.7 ±12.3) mm, width (12.2 ±1.4) mm, (11.11 ±1.5) mm, (7.4 ±1.1) mm, thickness (8.2 ±0.6) mm, (7.7 ±0.5) mm, (6.5 ±0.6) mm. There was no significant difference in the length, width and thickness of the left and right sides of the costal cartilage in the same sequence (P>0.05). There were significant differences in length, width and thickness between unilateral costal cartilage with different ordinal numbers (P<0.01). (2) The total calcification rates of left and right costal cartilage were 61.9% (130/210) and 60.0% (126/210), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (The chi-square was equal to 0.160. The P value was equal to 0.689), but there was no significant difference in left and right total calcification types, total calcification location and total calcification count (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the total calcification type between left and right, the total calcification location and the total calcification degree count (P>0.05). There was also no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the calcification rate between the left and right sides of the 6th, 7th and 8th costal cartilage, but there was significant difference in the total calcification types of the 6th, 7th and 8th costal cartilage (The chi-square was equal to 61.541, P value was less than 0.001). (3)The relationship between calcification rate and age was analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression equation. The higher the age, the higher the calcification rate. The relationship between the calcification degree and age of the 6th, 7th and 8th costal cartilage was tested by variance test, and the regression equation showed that the calcification degree of the 6th, 7th and 8th costal cartilage was higher with the age. Conclusions Preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction and image post-processing of costal cartilage with dual-source CT can accurately measure the amount of cartilage tissue and define the characteristics of calcification, so as to guide the clinical selection of costal cartilage that meets the requirements of operative method. In female patients of different ages undergoing rhinoplasty and external ear reconstruction, the calcification rate of costal cartilage increased with age, but there was no positive correlation. With the increase of calcification with age, artificial materials can be used for cases with severe calcification to avoid the blindness of surgery.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of diced cartilage in correcting nasal alar base depression after cleft lip surgery. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 15 patients of nasal deformity after lip surgery from January 2018 to January 2019. All the patients were taken from autologous costal cartilage to reconstruct the outline of nasal malformation, and the remaining autologous costal cartilage was cut into 0.5-1.0 mm pieces and filled into the basilar lacunar space of the nasal alar by the 1 ml syringe whose anterior needle nipples was removed. The effects of visual images before and after operation were compared and analyzed by Adobe Photoshop CS6 software. The patients were followed up for 6-15 months (mean 10months). The satisfaction and complications of the patients were investigated. Results: The nasal alar base was significantly elevated and the outline of the nasal deformity was improved in 15 patients after operation. The overall effect was satisfactory and no obvious complications were found. No obvious absorption was found in the follow-up. Conclusions The application of diced cartilage to correct the nasal alar base depression after cleft lip surgery was a feasible method with important clinical value. It advanced in taking good use of the remaining cartilage and reducing the damage to both the donor and recipient area.