The authors used lyophilized cartilage in plate, bar, chip or powder form in elderly patients. The transplant was also utilized in managing defects resulting from the removal of jaw cysts, bone tumours, etc. Furthermore, the authors treated bone defects of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus and of the hard palate as well as oro-antral perforations, infected wounds of the soft tissues and inflammatory bone processes. The patients in question had been treated in the surgical service during the years 1959--1975. The authors observed in elderly patients pathological alterations of the capillaries, haemorrhagic tendency and impairment of the blood-clotting mechanism. Furthermore, they found that the granulation tissue was of poor quality. In these cases they used cartilaginous tissue in powder form which promotes the formation of granulation tissue well supplied with blood. In the patients mentioned, the authors also utilized surgical adhesive, namely after tooth extractions and in managing their complications.