Remodelling of rabbit rib cartilages with perichondrial flaps and biodegradable implants

Remodelling of rib cartilages using the regenerative potential of perichondrium and self-reinforced polyglycolic acid (SR-PGA) implants was studied in eight growing rabbits. The 5th rib cartilage was resected subperichondrially on both sides and a 10 × 1.1-mm SR-PGA rod was placed inside the perichondrium on one side while the other served as a control. In one-half of the cases the perichondrium was used as a vascularized flap while in the other half it was used as a non-vascularized flap. Samples were taken 6 weeks postoperatively. Neocartilage formation was observed from vascularized as well as non-vascularized flaps.