[Deviations of septum cartilage after unilateral separation of Mucoperichondrium in rabbits (author's transl)].

In 49 rabbits the mucoperichondrium of their nasal septa was strictly unilaterally separated according to the Cottle procedure. In addition, in some rabbits only the surface of the septal cartilage was incised and in others the cartilage was cut vertically or horizontally. Four months after the operation the following alterations of the septa were seen: The separation of the mucoperichondrium from the cartilage or superficial incision of the cartilage led to a deviation to the operated left side. If in addition parts of the cartilage septum were mobilized, thus swinging horizontally or vertically, a deviation to the other nonoperated side was seen. Similarly, if two parallel vertical stripes of cartilage were excised, the ends of the remaining cartilage plate bent and the cartilage plate itself deviated to the nonoperated side. The postoperative deviations are due to released unbalanced forces of the cartilage itself and to the disequilibrium of scar tension resulting from the unilateral separation of the mucoperichondrium. To avoid these postoperative deviations the bilateral tunneling of the mucoperichondrium is required.