The perichondrial cutaneous graft. A 12-year clinical experience.

The perichondrial cutaneous graft is a reliable and versatile composite graft that possesses unique properties for reconstructive surgery. The graft consists of epidermis, dermis, scant subcutaneous tissue, and the perichondrial layer. Our clinical experience completely mirrors our findings from animal studies. A clinical study of 112 perichondrial cutaneous grafts includes patients whose ages ranged from 7 days to 92 years. The various clinical applications for use of the perichondrial cutaneous graft include repair of auricular deficits, ectropion, certain facial defects, and a variety of nasal reconstructive situations. A review of our clinical experience demonstrates excellent cosmesis and no contraction of any of the graft. The graft is routinely harvested from the anterior conchal bowl, and the donor defect is closed after cartilage resection with a postauricular interpolated skin island ("flip-flop flap"). Numerous situations present many options for reconstructive surgery. The perichondrial cutaneous graft provides such an alternative, offering great reliability and superb cosmesis.