Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013;104(7):633--634 VIDEOS OF SURGICAL PROCEDURES IN DERMATOLOGY Cartilage Graft in the Reconstruction of

the Pinna of the Ear Injerto de cartílago en la reconstrucción del pabellón auricular Description Complete excision of a neoplastic lesion on the pinna of the ear may affect the cartilaginous skeleton of this structure (Fig. 1). In contrast to the situation with other facial struc-tures, surgery to the ear has few functional repercussions. However, cosmetic changes due to scar retraction during the healing process are common. Substitution of the cartilage is possible using alloplastic materials or autologous cartilage grafts. Figure 1 Surgical defect affecting the cartilage of the anti-tragus. Please cite this article as: González-Sixto B, et al. Injerto de cartílago en la reconstrucción del pabellón auricular. Actas Dermosi-filiogr. 2013;104:633--4. Cartilage grafts can be of elastic cartilage (the concha or antihelix of the ear) or of hyaline cartilage (from the nasal septum or costal cartilage). Elastic cartilage is ideal for reconstruction of the pinna as it retains its original shape after the healing process.1 Hyaline cartilage is harder and more resistant but less malleable, and therefore less suit-able for this site. A cartilage graft must be of a similar shape to the defect and of a slightly larger size. If possible, the graft should be fixed to the perichondrium; otherwise the cartilage is introduced into dermal ‘‘pockets’ ’ and fixed with resorbable suture (Fig. 2). Cartilage grafts are used in combination with local flaps for skin cover. The survival of cartilage grafts is excellent, with reported rates of around 95 % at 20 years. Survival depends on sev-eral factors: blood supply to the recipient site, size of the graft, manipulation of the cartilage, postoperative trauma, and the presence or absence of overlying and underlying perichondrium.2 Figure 2 Cartilage graft to the antitragus fixed with resorbable suture