20.  What happens to a cartilage autograft?  Can you use allograft cartilage?

Answer:
The main advantage to cartilage autografts is that they undergo less resorption than bone. However the disadvantage is their tendency to warp. Cartilage distortion is primarily troublesome in the nasal dorsum where any curvature is readily apparent through the skin.

Allograft cartilage can be used because although chrondrocytes are quite antigenic, cartilage is an immunologically privileged tissue due to its matrix of proteoglycans which antibodies and lymphocytes are unable to pass. Cartilage can be transplanted fresh or preserved in various ways to decrease the antigenicity of cartilage including lyophilization, freezing, irradiation, immersing in germicidal solutions.
 

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