Biochemical Compositional Analysis of Cadaveric Rib Cartilage.

Cadaveric rib is used as a cartilage source for reconstructive rhinoplasty in patients who lack sufficient native septal cartilage; however, these grafts are known to warp. To measure and compare the biochemical properties of cadaveric rib as related to age, gender, and cortical versus core location. Seven cadaveric rib cartilage specimens were obtained and sectioned into cortical and core segments. Biochemical assays were used to determine total collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content. Collagen was present in higher amounts in cortical segments than core samples (72.8 ± 35.14 vs. 37.3 ± 16.99 μg/mgww,  = 0.0005). sGAG was also shown to be more prevalent in cortical segments (25.47 ± 11.59 vs. 12.17 ± 7.15 μg/mgww,  < 0.0001). The concentrations of collagen and sGAG demonstrated a positive correlation ( = 0.44,  = 0.0004). Collagen and sGAG content decreased with the age of the donor ( = 0.001 and  < 0.0001, respectively), but donor gender did not appear to affect collagen or sGAG content ( = 0.62 and  = 0.43, respectively). Collagen and sGAG content was higher in cortical segments of cadaveric rib cartilage than in core segments, and higher in samples from younger cadavers as well.