The iliac crest cartilaginous cap

Bone and cartilage grafts can be procured from the ilium either separately or as composite chondroosseous grafts when sufficient cartilage is present. The thickness and anatomy of this iliac cartilaginous cap was analyzed in relationship to age in 50 individuals. Histology was that of normal hyaline cartilage. The cartilage alone was more pliable with little memory when compared with auricular or septal cartilage. The cartilage/bone junction was very strong. Cartilage thickness ran from close to 1 cm at age 5 to a diminished zero at age 25.