Surgical Repair of Acquired Oronasal Fistulas Secondary to Periodontal Disease in Dogs Using a Flexible Bone Membrane: A Case Series

Oronasal fistulas are sequelae to periodontal disease in dogs. Previous case series have described the use of auricular cartilage as a type of membrane to help with surgical repair of oronasal fistulas. This case series explores the use of a commercially available flexible bone membrane in the surgical repair of ten acquired oronasal fistulas in dogs. The use of the flexible bone membrane did not necessarily improve the surgical outcomes in these cases; however, larger controlled trials are necessary to further evaluate its use.

Nasal Septal Perforation Closure by “Sandwich Grafts”: Technique, Initial Results

Nasal septal perforation closure represents a considerable surgical challenge. Many techniques rely on the implantation of foreign materials that pose a persisting threat of infection. The authors have identified a reliable technique closing septal perforations by an autologous “sandwich graft.” It is layered around a piece of auricular cartilage, covered with temporal fascia, thus emulating the physiological layers of the nasal septum. Finally, the prepared graft is then sewn into the perforation in an underlay technique and kept in place by septal splints for 4 weeks. The technique is easily feasible and strives to reconstruct the nasal as physiological as possible. The data obtained from a case series of 11 patients highlights the efficacy of the technique.

Compulsory auricular cartilage use: Modified septal extension graft application in revision rhinoplasty

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate how to perform a tongue-in-groove graft with the method we developed using auricular cartilage to provide adequate nasal tip support in 17 revision rhinoplasty cases. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on 17 patients (17 females; mean age: 23.9+3.7 years; range, 19 to 30 years) who underwent revision rhinoplasty (RR) operations for a low nasal tip between February 2019 and September 2020. After auricular cartilage was removed with a standard posterior auricular intervention, it was folded in two to increase its resistance and fixed to the caudal part of the nasal septum as a tongue-in-groove graft. RESULTS: Solid nasal tip support and satisfactory nasal tip projection and rotation were achieved in all patients. One (6%) patient developed auricular hematoma as a complication on the third postoperative day, and three (17%) of our patients complained of nasal obstruction in their postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION: When the use of costal cartilage is limited due to social and cultural reasons in RR cases performed due to a low nasal tip, auricular cartilage can be used as a modified tongue-in-groove graft and provides a satisfactory aesthetic appearance.

Case Report and Highlight Clues on the Diagnosis of Pilomatrical Carcinoma

Pilomatrical Carcinoma (PC) is a rare malignant adnexal tumor with matrical differentiation. Its benign counterpart (Pilomatrixoma) is diagnosed much more frequently in daily pathological practice. Both entities share genetic alterations but the malignant counterpart acquires mutations that make it develop an aggressive behavior [1]. We describe a 33-year-old man who presented with a 7 x 6 cm nodular ulcerated lesion in the left ear with markedly accelerated growth in the last month. Incisional biopsy was referred to us with suspicion of squamous cell carcinoma versus pyogenic granuloma. Histologic sections showed ulcerated fragments infiltrated by a basaloid cell proliferation interspersed with groups of “ghost cells”. The neoplastic cells were arranged in irregular sheets with infiltrative borders. Groups of Squamous cells with trichilemmal keratinization and foci of necrosis were also identified. The biopsy was diagnosed as an adnexal neoplasm with pilomatrical differentiation, suggesting its complete resection with safety margins due to the presence of aggressive characteristics. The subsequent study of the excisional biopsy showed similar characteristics to those previously described. Notoriously, focal infiltration of the auricular cartilage was identified, leading us to the undoubted diagnosis of pilomatrical carcinoma.

Contrast-Enhanced Micro–Computed Tomography for 3D Visualization and Quantification of Glycosaminoglycans in Different Cartilage Types

Objective To compare CA4+-enhanced micro–computed tomography (microCT) of bovine articular, meniscal, nasal, and auricular cartilage, each of which possesses a different extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and structure. Design The diffusion kinetics of CA4+ in different native cartilage types were assessed over 20 hours. The feasibility of CA4+-enhanced microCT to visualize and quantify glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in these different tissues was tested using safranin-O staining and 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue assay. Results The diffusion kinetics of CA4+ in auricular cartilage are significantly slower compared with all other cartilage types. Total GAG content per volume correlates to microCT attenuation with an R2 value of 0.79 for all cartilage types. Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced microCT images of spatial GAG distribution reflect safranin-O staining and highlight the differences in ECM structure, with heterogeneous regions with higher GAG concentrations highlighted by the contrast agent. Conclusions CA4+-enhanced microCT enables assessment of 3-dimensiona distribution and GAG content in different types of cartilage and has promise as an ex vivo diagnostic technique to monitor matrix development in different tissues over time as well as tissue-engineered constructs.