Prospective Trial Evaluating the Long-Term Outcomes Associated with the Use of MTF Allograft Cartilage in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Rhinoplasty Procedures

Goals/Purpose: Augmentation of the nasal cartilages with cartilage grafts for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures is performed usually by grafting autologous cartilage. Although, it has complications. For this reason, costal cartilage allograft by the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF) provides an alternative in rhinoplasties. Our goal is to compare MTF’s allograft costal cartilage with autograft costal cartilage with respect to clinical utility, complications, and patient satisfaction in reconstructive and cosmetic rhinoplasty.

Methods/Technique: This is a single-center, non-blinded, clinical trial, conducted in healthy adult subjects undergoing a reconstructive or cosmetic rhinoplasty involving the use of cartilaginous graft. This study will evaluate the outcomes and utility of MTF allograft compared to autologous harvest of costal cartilage. 30 subjects will be recruited. Eligible, consenting patients will be grouped into their respective cohort. They will choose to receive either the autologous or cadaveric graft. Prior to surgery, the patients fill out the pre-operative sections of a Face-Q checklist and will have pictures taken for documentation purposes. Subjects will have 1 week, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1-year clinical follow-up, which will include, patients completing the corresponding sections of the Face-Q, standardized 2D and 3D photographs. data on adverse effects and discomfort will also be collected throughout the study period. Observers and radiologists involved in outcome assessments will be blinded to study treatments throughout the duration of each patient’s evaluation period.

Results/Complications: 30 patients have been recruited so far and are involved in different stages of follow up, divide into two groups (MTF and Autologous), both groups show no difference in the pre-operative Face-Q checklist (p-value >0.05). On 1 week, 6 weeks and 12 weeks follow up both groups show no significant difference. On 6 month and 1 year follow up there is still not enough data to project any results yet. Patients' 2D and 3D photos reveal that there is no warping or resorption in our cadaveric cartilage group so far compared with the rib cartilage group. Longer follow up will be collected.

Conclusion: It is expected to prove not a significant difference between MTF and autologous cartilage when it comes to 1-year outcomes in satisfaction, recovery, and complications, leaving the door open for further studies to explore additional benefits of MTF use.