Comparison of Autologous vs Homologous Costal Cartilage Grafts in Dorsal Augmentation Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

[IMPORTANCE] Augmentation rhinoplasty requires adding cartilage to provide enhanced support to the structure of the nose. Autologous costal cartilage and irradiated homologous costal cartilage (IHCC) are well-accepted rhinoplasty options. Tutoplast is another alternative cartilage source. No studies, to our knowledge, have definitively demonstrated a higher rate of complications with IHCC grafts compared with autologous costal cartilage grafts.

[OBJECTIVE] To compare rates of outcomes in the published literature for patients undergoing septorhinoplasty with autologous costal cartilage vs IHCC grafts vs Tutoplast grafts.

[DATA SOURCES] For this systematic review and meta-analysis, the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for articles published from database inception to February 2019 using the following keywords: septorhinoplasty, rhinoplasty, autologous costal cartilage graft, cadaveric cartilage graft, and rib graft.

[STUDY SELECTION] Abstracts and full texts were reviewed in duplicate, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Only patients who underwent an en bloc dorsal onlay graft were included for comparison to ensure a homogenous study sample. A total of 1308 results were found. After duplicate records were removed, 576 unique citations remained. Studies were published worldwide between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2017.

[DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS] Independent extraction by 2 authors was performed. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

[MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES] All reported outcomes after septorhinoplasty and rates of graft warping, resorption, infection, contour irregularity, and revision surgery among patients receiving autologous grafts vs IHCC vs Tutoplast cartilage grafts.

[RESULTS] Of 576 unique citations, 54 studies were included in our systematic review; 28 studies were included after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Our search captured 1041 patients of whom 741 received autologous grafts and 293 received IHCC grafts (regardless of type). When autologous cartilage (n = 748) vs IHCC (n = 153) vs Tutoplast cartilage (n = 140) grafts were compared, no difference in warping (5%; 95% CI, 3%-9%), resorption (2%; 95% CI, 0%-2%), contour irregularity (1%; 95% CI, 0%-3%), infection (2%; 95% CI, 0%-4%), or revision surgery (5%; 95% CI, 2%-9%) was found.

[CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE] No difference was found in outcomes between autologous and homologous costal cartilage grafts, including rates of warping, resorption, infection, contour irregularity, or revisions, in patients undergoing dorsal augmentation rhinoplasty. En bloc dorsal onlay grafts are commonly used in augmentation rhinoplasty to provide contour and structure to the nasal dorsum.