Cartilage grafts are widely used in Plastic Surgery; however, there is a potential risk of reasorption that may affect the results obtained. Some authors report successful achievements using cartilage grafts wrapped in fascia. The purpose of this paper is to provide scientific evidence regarding the potential benefits of cartilage grafts wrapped with fascia. A descriptive, prospective, experimental and comparative study of some 20 white Sprague-Dawley rats was performed from may to october 2007. The sample units were obtained from histological sections of cartilage after implantation for 8 weeks. They were divided into 2 groups: study, 10 rats with autologous cartilage wrapped with fascia, and control, 10 rats with cartilage only. We performed histological and inmunohistochemical examination determining viability, inflammation, necrosis, reasorption and regeneration capacity. The autologous cartilage grafts wrapped with fascia were less reliable than grafts alone showing greater cartilage resorption (80% vs. 60%), lower regeneration capacity (50% vs. 80%), increased inflammatory response (80% vs. 30%), decreased viability (16% vs. 38 %), and necrosis (30%). Statistical analysis showed no significant difference. As a conclusion, the wrapping of autologous cartilage graft with fascia does not increase their viability or decrease their resorption in experimental animals.

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