Transplantation of fresh allografts (homografts) of crushed and uncrushed cartilage and bone: a 1-year analysis in rabbits.

Fresh allografts (homografts) of cartilage and bone, crushed and uncrushed, were transplanted in 53 rabbits. Each material was implanted into the auricle and concomitantly into the subdermis of the face. Postoperative assessment was every 1 to 3 days; sacrifice was at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year for microscopic evaluation. Uncrushed cartilage allografts remained viable, and no significant resorption occurred. Crushed cartilage was significantly resorbed by 6 weeks but changed little after that. Resorption of uncrushed bone was moderate and appeared to be ongoing. Total resorption by 1 year occurred in the absence of contact with perichondrium or periosteum. Crushed bone, like crushed cartilage, was largely resorbed. These data document the fact that uncrushed cartilage is superior to crushed cartilage, crushed bone, or uncrushed bone for fresh allograft transplantation in the rabbit and that uncrushed cartilage is probably superior to all other fresh allografts for use in the clinical setting.