Mucosal Epithelial Preservation of Free Nasal Grafts Depending on the Recipient Site

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis Reconstruction of mucosal defects using free mucosal grafts has become a common procedure during endoscopic sinus surgery. Epithelialization of mucosal grafts affects postoperative complications and outcomes, which could be influenced by different recipient tissue. However, morphological changes occurring in the grafts transplanted over different tissues remain unexplored. Study Design An animal study. Methods Free mucoperichondrial grafts were prepared from the nasal septum of rabbits; the cartilage group had reconstruction on the nasal septal cartilage, and the perichondrium group had reconstruction on the contralateral perichondrium. The nasal septum was removed after 1 and 4 weeks of reconstruction, and the graft was histologically evaluated. Results After 1 week of reconstruction, the mucosal epithelium of grafts in the cartilage group disappeared, whereas the columnar epithelium of grafts was preserved in the perichondrium group. After 4 weeks of reconstruction, the mucosal defect site was covered with mucosal epithelium in both groups. However, while squamous epithelium was mostly observed in the cartilage group, columnar epithelium containing the healthy ciliary and goblet cells was observed in the perichondrium group. Statistically significant differences were detected in the parameters of epithelial morphology between the two groups, which were higher in the perichondrium group. Conclusions In the reconstruction of mucosal defects using free mucosal grafts, difference in recipient tissue affects the graft epithelial morphology. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 132:2301–2306, 2022

Nasal Packing Materials and Placement Duration on Wound Healing in Nasal Mucosa: An Animal Study

“…Rabbits have an advantage in nasal experiments with large nasal cavities compared with other rodents enough to be stably operated and make constant mucosal defects. [23][24][25]30,31 We made a lateral incision on the nasal bone to completely expose the nasal septum and created a mucosal defect using a biopsy punch. Although there was a past report that investigated wound healing by creating mucosal defects in the nasal septum of rabbits, 31 our experimental procedure is considered advantageous to observe the entire nasal septum from the lateral side of the nasal cavity and, therefore, perform more accurate procedures.…”

“…Although there was a past report that investigated wound healing by creating mucosal defects in the nasal septum of rabbits, 31 our experimental procedure is considered advantageous to observe the entire nasal septum from the lateral side of the nasal cavity and, therefore, perform more accurate procedures. [23][24][25] In the present study, three packing materials were selected to investigate their effects on the wound healing process, and these differ in their composition. Spongel ® is composed of gelatine obtained from collagen.…”

“…In this study, we established an animal model in which the mucosal damage area was covered with packing materials and histologically investigate wound healing. Rabbits have an advantage in nasal experiments with large nasal cavities compared with other rodents enough to be stably operated and make constant mucosal defects 23–25,30,31 . We made a lateral incision on the nasal bone to completely expose the nasal septum and created a mucosal defect using a biopsy punch.…”

“…Local anesthesia was subcutaneously injected 3 mL of 1% xylocaine and 100,000‐fold diluted epinephrine into the incision area. An incision was made in the midline nasal skin and left lateral nasal bone to expose the left nasal septum 23–25 . An 8 mm‐diameter punch (Kai Industries Co., Seki, Japan) was used to make an incision in the nasal septal mucosa, which was removed with forceps, and mucosal defects were created.…”

“…An incision was made in the midline nasal skin and left lateral nasal bone to expose the left nasal septum. [23][24][25] An 8 mm-diameter punch (Kai Industries Co., Seki, Japan) was used to make an incision in the nasal septal mucosa, which was removed with forceps, and mucosal defects were created. The perichondrium was removed by scraping with a cotton ball to expose the nasal septal cartilage (Fig.…”