Ultra Diced Cartilage Graft in Rhinoplasty: A Fine Tool

Taş S.

What this paper says

Comparing 104 patients given an ultra finely diced cartilage graft against 113 given standard free diced cartilage, the author reports the finer graft was superior on visibility and resorption.

Overview

Diced cartilage smaller than 0.2 mm across is used to smooth the nasal bridge, but the author states cutting it that finely takes a long time, and free diced cartilage can still show through thin skin. The paper presents the ultra diced cartilage graft, describes how to produce it, and compares it with the standard free diced technique.

Sections of note

Comparison of two techniques between April 2015 and December 2018; therapeutic level of evidence III.
Ultra diced cartilage was used in 104 patients and free diced cartilage in 113.
Both were used to smooth the bridge or to build up the radix and bridge.
Analysis drew on operation records, the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation questionnaire and a palpation test.
Immediate postoperative photographs taken on the operating table were compared with photographs at 1 year.
Photographs were assessed by two independent blinded plastic surgeons.
The author reports ultra diced cartilage appeared superior to free diced cartilage on graft visibility and resorption.
The author states there is no extra cost and the technique produces pliable cartilage with no dead space.

What it means for a patient

Finer cartilage particles are intended to lie flatter and be less visible through thin skin.
The comparison used blinded independent raters at one year, which strengthens the photographic assessment.
The abstract reports no numbers, percentages or statistical tests for the claimed superiority.
This is a non randomized comparison from a single surgeon.

Why this paper matters

Diced cartilage is the standard material for smoothing the bridge, and its visible edges in thin skinned patients are the recurring complaint. This study tests whether finer dicing solves that. Without reported figures the size of any advantage is unclear.

Terms

Diced cartilage: cartilage cut into small pieces so it can be shaped like a paste.
Free diced cartilage: diced cartilage placed without a fascia or other wrapping.
Radix: the root of the nose between the eyes.
Resorption: gradual absorption and loss of graft material by the body.
Palpation test: checking by feel whether a graft edge can be detected through the skin.
Dead space: an empty gap between graft particles where fluid can collect.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Free diced cartilage smaller than 0.2 mm in diameter to smoothen the nasal dorsum is a well-known procedure. However, creating smaller diced cartilage takes a really long time. In contrast, the free diced cartilage technique has some visibility problems, especially in thin-skin patients, although a fine job is done to…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.