Bovine Cartilage: A Near Perfect Training Tool for Carving Ear Cartilage Framework

Objective: To develop a training module for carving ear cartilage. Setting: Designing the ear framework is one of the most challenging surgical steps during ear reconstruction in microtia and acquired deformities of the ear. Trainees do not get an opportunity to carve ear cartilage during their training period. Material: Ox scapular cartilage was retrieved from a manual slaughterhouse. It was transported in a 4 degrees C ice chamber. This was used as a training material for carving the ear framework. Each scapular cartilage was adequate for two to three ear frameworks. Results: Twenty-two trainees used the bovine cartilage in a wet lab. All had positive feedback on their ear framework carving experience. In their opinion, the consistency, flexibility, and cutting experience almost matched that of human costal cartilage. Conclusion: The ox scapular cartilage has been found to be a near perfect material for training and practicing carving of the ear cartilage.