[Behaviour of growing septal cartilage after autogenous transplantation into the retroauricular region (author's transl)].

In five children and one adolescent biopsies of the septal cartilage partially covered with inner perichondrium, were removed during septoplasty and buried into the retroauricular region for 1.8 to 5.3 years. After removal the implants were equal or reduced size. Histologically the cartilage showed its original structure in three children who were before their puberal growth spurt at the time of the removal of the implant. In the other three who were beyond this growth spurt the septal cartilage was partially or nearly totally ossified. The presence of the innermost perichondrium may prevent resorption of the cartilage. At the borders of the cartilage without perichondrium signs of resorption were more marked in the elder group than in the younger.