The rabbit inferior eyelid repair was evaluated using NaCl satured-stored alogenous auricular cartilage. Twelve adult male and female rabbits had a 1.0x0.5cm fragment removed from the left and right inferior eyelids after pre-medication with acepromazine (0.5mg/kgIM) and tiletamine-zolazepan (7.0mg/kgIM) anesthesia. The "H" plasty technique was used to the left eyelid repair (CG) and the right one was repaired with auricular cartilage associated with the "H" plasty technique (GG). The CG wounds presented cutaneous retraction at day 7th of the post-operative period. The GG wounds were healed on the day 15th, while the CG wounds presented 30% of deiscence and cicatricial retraction. The GG and CG wounds were healed at day 30th of the post-operative period, but 30% of the CG wounds did not present the edges lined up. It was concluded that the auricular cartilage graft decreases cicatricial retraction and improves anatomical eyelid repair.
auricular cartilage; surgery; graft; eyelid
