Efficacy of cartilaginous graft use in rhinoplasty: a systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15838376

Keywords:

Rhinoplasty, grafts, aesthetics

Abstract

This study analyzes the efficacy of the use of cartilaginous grafts in rhinoplasty, comparing them with conventional rhinoplasty in terms of aesthetic and functional results. A systematic review was performed using PRISMA methodology, with a search in biomedical databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and SciELO. Original studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included; strict inclusion criteria were also established to ensure the methodological quality of the 30 selected studies. The results show that cartilage grafts improve nasal stability and functionality, with autologous cartilage being the most widely used option due to its biocompatibility. However, costal cartilage presents risks of postoperative deformation, and synthetic or allogeneic alternatives require further validation. In conclusion, graft selection should be individualized, considering both structural benefits and possible risks. Rhinoplasty should not only focus on aesthetics, but also on improving respiratory function. Advances in tissue engineering could revolutionize this field, but its clinical implementation still requires further studies to ensure its long-term safety and efficacy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anchan, S. V., y Naik, A. (2018). Efficacy of diced cartilage graft in dorsal augmentation rhinoplasty and comparison with solid block cartilage. International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 4(3), 670. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20181854

Casanueva L, F. (2016). Injertos de punta nasal en rinoplastía primaria. Revista de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello, 76(1), 21-30. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-48162016000100004

Chau, E. A. (2024). Cirugía de rinoplastia con injerto de punta nasal de silicona tallada realizada en una clínica de Lima, Perú en el 2022. Horizonte Médico, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.24265/horizmed.2024.v24n3.03

Costa, S. M. D., Souza, G. M. D. C., Penna, W. C. N. B., Neffa, L., y Afiune, R. G. (2015). The bundle of twigs cartilage graft for augmentation of the nasal dorsum. Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (RBCP) – Brazilian Journal of Plastic Sugery, 30(4). https://doi.org/10.5935/2177-1235.2015RBCP0204

Espinosa Reyes, J. A., Muñoz Tamayo, J. F., y González Marín, N. R. (2017). Injertos en rinoplastia primaria tallados del dorso cartilaginoso. ACTA DE OTORRINOLARINGOLOGÍA & CIRUGÍA DE CABEZA Y CUELLO, 43(4), 277-280. https://doi.org/10.37076/acorl.v43i4.34

Gentile, P., y Cervelli, V. (2022). Nasal Tip Remodeling Using Autologous Cartilage Grafts: Systematic Review. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 33(7), 2035-2040. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000008494

Harutyunyan, A., y Hakobyan, G. (2025). Dorsal Augmentation Rhinoplasty by Cartilage Allograft. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.16724

Hassan Tahir, Muhammad Adil Iqbal, Shehab Afzal Beg, Osama Ahmed Qureshi, Touqeer Hussain, y Remsha Sattar. (2023). Nose dorsum augmentation with diced cartilage graft versus Block cartilage graft in mild saddle nose. The Professional Medical Journal, 30(08), 999-1003. https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2023.30.08.7072

Ho, T.-V. T., Sykes, K., Kriet, J. D., y Humphrey, C. (2018). Cartilage Graft Donor Site Morbidity following Rhinoplasty and Nasal Reconstruction. Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction, 11(4), 278-284. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1607065

Jiang, M., Huo, H., y Zhang, L. (2024). Current practice in autologous rib and costal-cartilage harvest for rhinoplasty: A systematic review. Chinese Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 6(1), 41-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjprs.2024.02.002

Kandulu, H. (2023). Revision rhinoplasty with free diced cartilage grafts: Outcome evaluations with the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale: Outcome of revision rhinoplasty. Journal of Surgery and Medicine, 7(10), 700-704. https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.7726

Karpiuk, V., Gilevich, I., Perova, M., y Ponkina, O. (2024). Tissue engineering approach to the creation of grafting material for rhinoplasty: Clinical сase reports. Exploration of BioMat-X, 1(3), 158-173. https://doi.org/10.37349/ebmx.2024.00011

Ledo, T. O., Ramos, H. H. A., Buba, C. M., Webster, G., De Lima Jr, J. T., De Paiva, D. L., y Jurado, J. (2021). Outcome of Free Diced Cartilage Grafts in Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review. Facial Plastic Surgery, 37(01), 117-121. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1714664

Lopes, D. D., Andrade, B. G. D. A., Vaena, M. L. H. T., y Mota, D. S. C. D. (2011). Single block costal cartilage graft in rhinoplasty. Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (Impresso), 26(3), 453-460. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1983-51752011000300015

Manafi, A., Kaviani, A., Hamedi, Z. S., Rajabiani, A., y Manafi, N. (2017). Evidence-Based Efficacy of Autologous Grated Cartilage in Primary and Secondary Rhinoplasty. World Journal of Plastic Surgery, 6(2), 137-143. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5506346/

Nikparto, N., Yari, A., Mehraban, S. H., Bigdelou, M., Asadi, A., Darehdor, A. A., Nezaminia, S., Khani, M., Hakim, L. K., Eskandari, F., Erfani, M., y Tebyaniyan, H. (2024). The current techniques in dorsal augmentation rhinoplasty: A comprehensive review. Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 46(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-024-00418-9

Nuara, M. J., Loch, R. B., y Saxon, S. A. (2016). Reconstructive Rhinoplasty Using Multiplanar Carved Costal Cartilage. JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, 18(3), 207-211. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamafacial.2015.2251

Ortega F, G., Pio R, G., Muñoz S, D., Pinto C, J. L., y Cardemil M, F. (2017). Injerto costal para reconstrucción nasal: Experiencia de 6 años en el Hospital San Juan de Dios. Revista de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello, 77(1), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-48162017000100006

Park, H., Kim, Y., y Choi, J. W. (2023). Asian rhinoplasty using a thin rib cartilage graft and ultrafine diced cartilage wrapped in fascia: A comparative study between septal cartilage graft and rib cartilage graft. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 77, 262-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2022.11.022

Perry, A. C., y Adesida, A. B. (2024). Tissue Engineering Nasal Cartilage Grafts with Three-Dimensional Printing: A Comprehensive Review. Tissue Engineering Part B: Reviews, 13 (16). https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.teb.2024.0187

Rajbhandari, S., y Kao, C.-H. (2021). Costal Cartilage Graft in Asian Rhinoplasty: Surgical Techniques. En Y.-B. Tang (Ed.), Cosmetic Surgery. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91613

Read-Fuller, A. M., Yates, D. M., Radwan, A., Schrodt, A. M., y Finn, R. A. (2018). The Use of Allogeneic Cartilage for Grafting in Functional and Reconstructive Rhinoplasty. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 76(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2018.03.021

Salzano, G., Audino, G., Dell’Aversana Orabona, G., Committeri, U., Troise, S., Arena, A., Vaira, L. A., De Luca, P., Scarpa, A., Elefante, A., Romano, A., Califano, L., y Piombino, P. (2024). Fresh Frozen Homologous Rib Cartilage: A Narrative Review of a New Trend in Rhinoplasty. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(6), 1715. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13061715

Segreto, F., Marianetti, T., Iademarco, A., Cimmino, A. A., Rossi, C., y Persichetti, P. (2024). Mechanically fragmented cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty: An up-to-date systematic review. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 95, 250-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2024.05.036

Shafik, A. G., Mohamed, M. N., y Hassan, H. M. (2020). Evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of free diced cartilage in dorsal and tip nasal rhinoplasty. The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology, 36(1), 54. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-020-00056-8

Szychta, P. (2024). Enhanced revision rhinoplasty with processed costal cartilage guided by preoperative computed tomography and 3D scanning. Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 46(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-024-00422-z

Taş, S. (2021). Ultra Diced Cartilage Graft in Rhinoplasty: A Fine Tool. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 147(4). https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000007794

Trivisonno, A., Cohen, S. R., Magalon, G., Magalon, J., Sterodimas, A., Pascali, M., Cervelli, V., Toietta, G., Colaprietra, A., Calcagni, F., Orlandi, A., Scioli, M. G., y Gentile, P. (2019). Fluid Cartilage as New Autologous Biomaterial in the Treatment of Minor Nose Defects: Clinical and Microscopic Difference Amongst Diced, Crushed, and Fluid Cartilage. Materials, 12(7), 1062. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12071062

Vidal, M. A., Kokiso, D., Vidal, B. P., y Andrade Filho, A. M. L. D. (2015). Diced cartilage graft to increase the nasal radix. Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (RBCP) – Brazilian Journal of Plastic Sugery, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.5935/2177-1235.2015RBCP0109

Wang, J., Li, B., Wang, Q., Wu, L., Zhang, C., Zhao, S., Chen, L., Li, K., y Zhou, X. (2023). A Modified Technique in Rhinoplasty: A Septal Extension Graft Complex Using Septal Cartilage, Ethmoid Bone, and Auricular Cartilage. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 43(2), 125-136. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjac185

Published

2025-07-08

Issue

Section

Communication of Science: Bibliometrics and systematic reviews.

How to Cite

Beltrán Vidal, M. P., Silva Salazar, M. A., Toapanta Correa, L. A., & Calle Agurto , J. A. (2025). Efficacy of cartilaginous graft use in rhinoplasty: a systematic review. InveCom Journal, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15838376

Most read articles by the same author(s)