Cartilage warping: an experimental model.

Cadaveric cartilage was cut into blocks with a newly devised cartilage cutter. Over one-hundred pieces of cartilage were used to define a kinetics curve of cartilage warping. Kinetics curves were developed for a control group of cartilage blocks placed in saline-soaked gauze (n = 46). In addition, kinetics curves were developed for cartilage placed in hypotonic saline (n = 14), hypertonic saline (n = 14), and cyanoacrylate glue (n = 6). Photographs of all groups were taken at timed intervals in order to plot the cartilage warping. It was found that pieces of cartilage which were cut peripherally (n = 6) warped twice as much as those cut centrally (n = 40). This was significant to p = 0.001. Within 15 minutes, centrally cut pieces of cartilage warped to approximately 90 percent of their end warpage; on the other hand, peripherally cut pieces of cartilage required 30 minutes to warp 90 percent of their destined warpage. The variables used did not significantly alter the kinetics curves as compared with control.