COMPOSITE FREE GRAFTS OF SKIN AND CARTILAGE FROM THE EAR

Abstract

Composite free grafts from the ear, comprising two surfaces of skin with cartilage between, have proved increasingly useful in the replacement of tissue lost from the nasal tip, nostril borders and columella. The use of a free transplant has made possible repairs in a single procedure with minimal resultant deformity of the ear. Thus, the risk of altering a normal feature in shifting a local flap or the need of multiple procedures in moving a distant flap have been eliminated in correcting these deformities. Losses from gunshot wounds, burns, injuries and surgical excision are all correctible by this method, but it is doubtful whether grafts over 1 cm. in width can be successfully transplanted. Since the length of the graft is not limited, the columella, tip and one ala can be restored with a single graft, which reproduces almost perfectly the normal curve at the apex of the nostril. To