Management of severe bilateral nasal wall collapse

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine and analyze the pathology contributing to severe bilateral nasal wall collapse seen in certain revision rhinoplasty patients and identify those surgical maneuvers in the previous nasal surgery, which may have contributed to this complication; suggest alternatives or modifying steps in nasal surgery to prevent lateral wall collapse; analyze consecutive revision rhinoplasties and identify those patients who have complete bilateral nasal collapse at the internal nasal valve; and analyze the results achieved after surgical reconstruction of complete bilateral nasal collapse. PATIENTS: We identified 49 patients, who presented from 1990 to 2000 for revision surgery, who had bilateral collapse of the upper lateral cartilage. All patients had at least one previous rhinoplasty and all but 14 patients had undergone two or more procedures. The patients were reconstructed with a conchal cartilage graft placed through an external rhinoplasty approach. RESULTS: All patients complained of nasal obstruction with forced nasal inspiration. The collapse was visualized on inspiration and when prevented with intranasal positioning of a bayonet, all patients experienced an immediate improvement in nasal breathing. Postoperatively, all patients experienced this same improvement in their nasal airway. Collapse was not identified in any of the patients after surgery. Two patients underwent revision because of cosmetic asymmetries. CONCLUSION: We strongly recommend a cartilage overlay to reconstitute the rigid midline continuity of the upper lateral cartilages. Unfortunately, with any significant hump removal, this structural interruption is, to varying degrees, inevitable in most rhinoplasty techniques. The upper lateral cartilages can be sutured to circumvent some of the inferior drift, but this will not reconstitute the rigid lateral cantilever effect of the intact cartilage.     

Cartilaginous grafts in rhinoplasty

We present a revision of 38 cases operated on for augmentation rhinoplasty from 1992 to 2001, using a cartilaginous graft. 83% of our patients were men and 17% were female. The mean age was 31 years old. In 33 rhinoplasties, the graft was placed in the nasal dorsum; in 4 cases it was placed at the nasal tip and in one case reconstruction of the dorsum and the tip was performed. The most frequently used graft was septal cartilage, in 28 cases. Conchae cartilages were used in 3 cases, lower lateral cartilage in 5 cases, rib cartilage in one, and in another case, septal and lower lateral cartilage were used in the same patient. We stabilized the graft fixing it to the skin with a suture which is removed after a week. We did a postoperative follow-up on 25 of the patients. In terms of patient satisfaction, 12% of them felt that their nasal appearance had improved, 76% felt that there had been a great improvement, and 12% did not notice any change. Only one patient had to be reoperated on because of an overprojection of the graft in the nasal dorsum. We conclude that the use of autologous cartilaginous grafts offers important advantages in rhinoplasty; they are easy to be obtained, easy to mould and with a low index of resorption.     

Evaluation of surgical techniques on nasal tip projection

One of the most distressing complications of rhinoplasty is the settling of the nasal tip leading to a fullness in the supratip area, the so-called “polly-beak” deformity. An evaluation of the anatomical factors was carried out in the live patient and had two objectives in mind: to define the elements of nasal tip support and to evaluate some of the more popular surgical methods which are used to maintain or augment tip projection. The three elements of tip support, commonly destroyed during rhinoplasty, are the relationship between the upper and lower lateral cartilages, the fibrous union of the tip cartilages with the septum, and the lowering of the nasal skeleton secondary to hump removal. Since sacrifice of the superior margin of the alar cartilages is performed in most rhinoplasties, the fibrous overlapping relationship of the upper and lower cartilages is necessarily destroyed. Preservation of relationship of the mesial crural feet to the septum helps to maintain tip support without the necessity of cartilage struts and columellar sutures. When a complete transfixion incision is employed, the most effective method to augment tip projection is by the division of the alar cartilages and the re-approximation of the medial portions in the midline.     

External rhinoplasty: a critical analysis of 500 cases

The study presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of a series of 500 consecutive rhinoplasties of which 380 (76 per cent) were primary and 120 (24 per cent) were secondary cases. All cases were operated upon using the external rhinoplasty technique; simultaneous septal surgery was performed in 350 (70 per cent) of the cases. Deformities of the upper two-thirds of the nose that occurred significantly more in the secondary cases included; dorsal saddling, dorsal irregularities, valve collapse, open roof and pollybeak deformities. In the lower third of the nose; secondary cases showed significantly higher incidences of depressed tip, tip over-rotation, tip asymmetry, retracted columella, and alar notching. Suturing techniques were used significantly more in primary cases, while in secondary cases grafting techniques were used significantly more. The complications encountered intra-operatively included; septal flap tears (2.8 per cent) and alar cartilage injury (1.8 per cent), while post-operative complications included; nasal trauma (one per cent), epistaxis (two per cent), infection (2.4 per cent), prolonged oedema (17 per cent), and nasal obstruction (0.8 per cent). The overall patient satisfaction rate was 95.6 per cent and the transcolumellar scar was found to be unacceptable in only 0.8 per cent of the patients.     

The effects of lower lateral cartilage excision on nasal tip projection

Nasal tip projection is an important defining feature of the nasal profile. Loss of projection is often the bane of the rhinoplastic surgeon. While augmentation techniques for maintaining or increasing tip projection are useful in selected patients, the majority of rhinoplasties rely on excision of cartilage, particularly cartilage of the cephalic border of the lower lateral crura, to produce the desired cosmetic result. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of lower lateral cartilage excision on nasal tip projection resulting from three common forms of nasal tip surgery. These techniques included cephalic border resection without vertical dome division, cephalic border resection with vertical dome division, and cephalic border resection with dome division and suture reapproximation of the mesial crura, the so-called "Goldman tip." Despite the fact that overall excellent results were obtained and loss of projection was rarely a noticeable feature, a measurable loss of projection can be seen in all but one case in this series. Although loss of tip projection is usually acceptable due to the masking effect, the concurrent reduction in dorsal nasal height, loss of projection must be anticipated in excisional techniques of the lower lateral cartilage.     

Surgery of the nasal tip

Summary  The nasal tip is considered most difficult area in entire rhinoplasty. The shape of the nasal tip is altered primarily by changes of lower lateral cartilages. or by badly performed surgery. For the assessment of the tip, its shape must be considered in relationship to the rest of the nose and face. Various types of tip deformities may be encountered. Tip may be overprojected, underprojected, bulbous or retruded columella may be deformed or there may be alar flaring. Tip surgery should be properly planned and accomplished meticulously to achieve pleasing results. Delivery flap technique provides excellent exposure and can deal with most of the tip deformities successfully.     

The over-projecting nasal tip: Precise reduction without rotation

Excessive projection of the nasal tip is a relatively uncommon deformity, often referred to as the “Pinocchio” nose. When this unaesthetic appearance is secondary to abnormally long medial and lateral crura of the lower lateral cartilages, and when tip rotation is undesirable, surgical correction can represent a challenging problem. A simple and reproducible method via the open septorhinoplasty approach is described for correction of this deformity. In this technique, preoperative photographs are analyzed to calculate the exact length of cartilage to be excised from the medial and lateral crura. The results of this procedure are critically analyzed in six consecutive patients followed for 7 to 19 months. Based on this experience, the operation is recommended as a reliable method for correction of the over-projecting nasal tip when minimal or no rotation is desirable.     

Die Schiefnase

The deviated nose represents a complex cosmetic and functional problem. Septal surgery plays a central role in the successful management of the externally deviated nose. This study included 800 patients seeking rhinoplasty to correct external nasal deviations; 71% of these suffered from variable degrees of nasal obstruction. Septal surgery was necessary in 736 (92%) patients, not only to improve breathing, but also to achieve a straight, symmetric external nose. A graduated surgical approach was adopted to allow correction of the dorsal and caudal deviations of the nasal septum without weakening its structural support to the nasal dorsum or nasal tip. The approach depended on full mobilization of deviated cartilage, followed by straightening of the cartilage and its fixation in the corrected position by using bony splinting grafts through an external rhinoplasty approach.     

Rhinoplasty tip ptosis: Etiology and prevention

Commonly, 12-18 months must elapse before the final postoperative result following rhinoplasty may be judged. Unless actively compensated for during surgery, an inconstant degree of nasal tip ptosis (“settling”) may lead to displeasing nasal profile characteristics. Supra-tip rounding accentuates tip ptosis, creating the undesirable “pollybeak” deformity. Generally, these two complications of rhinoplasty are predictable and preventable, providing that their various etiologies are clearly understood. Nasal tip ptosis in the postoperative healing period occurs if false projection of the tip confuses the surgeon. Operative tip swelling (infiltration anesthesia and edema) along with malpositioned columellar “bunching” sutures and “orthopedic” septocolumellar sutures create spurious tip projection. Loss of normal tip support occurs when incisions interrupt the attachment of the lower lateral cartilages to the upper lateral cartilages as well as the “wrap-around” relationship of the feet of the medial crura to the caudal cartilaginous septum. Complete transfixion incisions should be avoided when possible. Cartilaginous or bony shoring struts increase tip support. Modeling of the lower lateral cartilage should not include over-generous removal of the lateral crura, thus further weakening tip support. Unfavorable healing factors contributing to tip ptosis include linear contraction of the transfixion incision scar, the natural downward torque influence of the lower lateral cartilages, and detrimental synergistic activity of specific muscles of facial expression. Tip ptosis may accentuate the undesirable formation of supra-tip prominence, thus unmasking the eventual stigma of “pollybeak” deformity. Supra-tip prominence may develop as the result of: 1. Inadequate lowering of cartilaginous dorsal hump. 2. Inadequate lowering of upper lateral cartilages. 3. Insufficient nasal skin undermining. 4. Failure to excise adequately redundant mucous membrane projecting above the newly-established profile line. 5. Inadequate tip splinting. Preventive operative maneuvers can reduce the incidence of displeasing profile relationships, leading to a natural and harmonious postoperative rhinoplasty appearance.     

Advances in nasal tip surgery. The lateral crural steal

Increasing nasal tip projection, rotation, and definition have classically been attempted through a variety of lobular cartilage incising or excising techniques. Resultant long-term complications, including bossing, alar notching, pinched tips, and alar collapse, have occasionally resulted from the use of these techniques. The majority of these complications have arisen secondary to a loss of structural support following the interruption of the lower lateral cartilages. This article describes the "lateral crural steal," a method of increasing nasal tip projection and nasal tip rotation while preserving the integrity of the lobular cartilage complex. The procedure uses the external rhinoplasty approach for exposure. By elevating both the dorsal and the vestibular skin from the domes of the lobular cartilages, the lateral crura may be advanced onto the medial crura to further project the nasal tip and to reorient the tip upward. This technique along with its philosophy and long-term follow-up results are presented.     

The 'butterfly' graft in functional secondary rhinoplasty

OBJECTIVE: To describe a surgical technique (the conchal cartilage "butterfly" graft) which, when used in properly selected patients, has been found to be a dependable method for alleviation of postrhinoplasty internal nasal valve dysfunction. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Analysis of consecutive patients with weakness and/or collapse of the upper lateral cartilages following rhinoplasty. Seventy-two patients (37 women and 35 men, age range 17-76 y) had severe nasal obstruction and were found to have indications for this procedure. All patients had undergone at least one rhinoplastic procedure. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: All 72 patients experienced significant subjective improvement in relative nasal obstruction. Two patients (3%) reported less than total resolution of their difficulty breathing through their nose; the remaining 70 patients (97%) reported complete resolution of their nasal airway problems. No patients reported their postoperative nasal obstruction as the same or worse than their preoperative baseline. Sixty-two patients (86%) reported improvement in the appearance of their nose, 8 patients (11%) felt that their appearance was unchanged, and 2 patients (3%) felt that the appearance of their nose was made worse by the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with nasal obstruction after rhinoplasty are frequently found to have collapse and/or weakening of their upper lateral cartilages with resulting nasal valve dysfunction. The conchal cartilage "butterfly" graft is a technique which, when properly performed during revision rhinoplasty, yields predictable functional and cosmetic results with minimal morbidity.     

Knorpeltransplantate bei der funktionell-ästhetischen Rhinoplastik

Complications after rhinoplasty could often be prevented if less of the support structures of the nose were resected and cartilage transplants were used to give stability. Long-term complications depend heavily on the nasal anatomy, Which is why the surgeon must be able to identify anatomical variants and adapt the surgical technique as necessary. Thus, rhinoplasty techniques have moved away from excisional methods and shifted toward repositioning and restructuring existing tissues. Conservative reduction and preservation of support structures will maximize the aesthetic and functional results. Checking the shape of the tip of the nose is the critical step, and stabilization of the nasal base in particular leads to a good long-term outcome with preservation of the nasal tip projection. The surgeon needs to stabilize the structure of the nose by building up the structure and must also anticipate the effects of scar contracture. This entails structural grafting with autologous cartilage. In this paper, the authors present the grafting techniques most commonly used to sculpt the nasal framework; in primary and secondary rhinoplasty. Tried and tested grafts are presented, with the appropriate nomenclature relating to each and also the anatomical locations of and clinical indications for each.     

Cartilage grafts in functional and aesthetic rhinoplasty

Complications after rhinoplasty could often be prevented if less of the support structures of the nose were resected and cartilage transplants were used to give stability. Long-term complications depend heavily on the nasal anatomy, Which is why the surgeon must be able to identify anatomical variants and adapt the surgical technique as necessary. Thus, rhinoplasty techniques have moved away from excisional methods and shifted toward repositioning and restructuring existing tissues. Conservative reduction and preservation of support structures will maximize the aesthetic and functional results. Checking the shape of the tip of the nose is the critical step, and stabilization of the nasal base in particular leads to a good long-term outcome with preservation of the nasal tip projection. The surgeon needs to stabilize the structure of the nose by building up the structure and must also anticipate the effects of scar contracture. This entails structural grafting with autologous cartilage. In this paper, the authors present the grafting techniques most commonly used to sculpt the nasal framework; in primary and secondary rhinoplasty. Tried and tested grafts are presented, with the appropriate nomenclature relating to each and also the anatomical locations of and clinical indications for each.     

Concave deformity of the lateral nasal cartilage. A cause of nasal stenosis

Concave lower lateral cartilages are rare but impressive findings that can best be exposed by open rhinoplasty. Surgical treatment takes advantage of the existing vaulting of the cartilage. A 180 degrees rotation flap is recommended for unilateral cases and a cross-over rotation flap for bilateral deformities. The concave form of lateral crura is probably more frequent than suspected, and it is therefore necessary to identify this lesion and to be familiar with techniques for its correction.     

Alar setback technique: a controlled method of nasal tip deprojection.

OBJECTIVES: To describe an alar cartilage-modifying technique aimed at decreasing nasal tip projection in cases with overdeveloped alar cartilages and to compare it with other deprojection techniques used to correct such deformity. DESIGN: Selected case series. SETTINGS: University and private practice settings in Alexandria, Egypt. PATIENTS: Twenty patients presenting for rhinoplasty who had overprojected nasal tips primarily due to overdeveloped alar cartilages. All cases were primary cases except for one patient, who had undergone 2 previous rhinoplasties. INTERVENTION: An external rhinoplasty approach was used to set back the alar cartilages by shortening their medial and lateral crura. The choice of performing a high or low setback depended on the preexisting lobule-to-columella ratio. Following the setback, the alar cartilages were reconstructed in a fashion that increased the strength and stability of the tip complex. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjective evaluation included clinical examination, analysis of preoperative and postoperative photographs, and patient satisfaction. Objective evaluation of nasal tip projection, using the Goode ratio and the nasofacial angle, was performed preoperatively and repeated at least 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A low setback was performed in 16 cases (80%) and a high setback in 4 (20%). The mean follow-up period was 18 months (range, 6-36 months). The technique effectively deprojected the nasal tip as evidenced by the considerable postoperative decrease in values of the Goode ratio and the nasofacial angle. No complications were encountered and no revision surgical procedures were required. CONCLUSIONS: The alar setback technique has many advantages; it results in precise predictable amounts of deprojection, controls the degree of tip rotation, preserves the natural contour of the nasal tip, respects the tip support mechanisms, increases the strength and stability of nasal tip complex, preserves or restores the normal lobule-to-columella proportion, and does not lead to alar flaring. However, the technique requires an external rhinoplasty approach and fine technical precision.     

Saddle nose surgery: long term aesthetic outcomes of support grafts

Saddle nose surgery requires support grafts to improve the aesthestic of the nose such as the functional ventilation. Many kind of graft are available: Calvarial bone graft, iliac crest, septal cartilage, conchal cartilage, nasal hump, bony inferior turbinate. OBJECTIVES: To define the surgical strategy and long term aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty with support graft for saddle nose correction. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study during the period 1985-2005: 160 patients underwent rhinoplasty with support graft for saddle nose correction. Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the deformation (group I: Minor saddle nose; group II: Intermediate saddle nose; group III: Major saddle nose). Long term results were analysed at least 5 years after surgery, in 70 patients. RESULTS: An intranasal approach was performed in 92 cases, while an open approach was performed in 68 cases. A bony support graft was used in 85% of patients of group II and 94% of patients of group III. These grafts allowed a more rigid correction of the saddle nose than cartilage. For groups II and III patients, cartilage support grafts were not used because of the lack of quantity to correct the saddle nose. CONCLUSION: Calvarial bone support graft has a great role in saddle nose surgery. The postoperative aesthetic outcomes are interesting and its absorption is low.     

External transcolumellar approach and cartilage grafting: a very complementary association

Two major facts have modified the philosophy of rhinoplasty: the desire to obtain more harmonious and balanced nose with conservative resections and a more frequent use of the open approach. This approach allows more accuracy in the diagnosis of the deformities and in the control and the preservation of the supports of the nose, namely the tip, alar and middle vault supports, and in the use of innovative techniques, specifically in the nasal tip: suture techniques and cartilage grafts. External transcolumellar approach and cartilage grafting go hand in hand and are frequently associated in the correction of under and overtip projection. Grafts can be use for improvement of aesthetic and function and the excellent exposure provided by the open approach permits a precise placement and stabilization of the grafts. Septal surgery benefits significantly from the excellent exposure for correction of all kind of deformities.     

Avulsion of the upper lateral cartilage: Etiology,diagnosis, surgical anatomy and management

Relatively little has been published about upper lateral cartilage abnormalities, trauma, and management in rhinoplastic literature. In this paper we would like to present a relatively common problem seen either by trauma or as a result of rhinoplasty. The upper lateral cartilages are a pair of triangular cartilages, one on each side of the dorsum, which comprise the upper cartilaginous vault with the septum and can be avulsed due to direct trauma. This results in loss of their attachments and resultant healing in a new angulated position. The middle third of the nose, being relatively mobile, is less susceptible to trauma than the upper third which is rigid and comprised of bone, and that frequently is the reason for less incidence of avulsion of the upper lateral cartilages compared to fractured nasal bones. The surgical treatment of the structures adjacent to the upper lateral cartilage during the process of rhinoplasty severs many attachments of these cartilages and frequently causes them to be free floating. This may not be recognized and not treated. Lack of appropriate realignment in the normal anatomical position may heal the cartilage in a distorted angulated position. Irrespective of etiology, when distortions of the upper lateral cartilage occur, they may cause significant concavity and “hollowed out” appearance on the side of the avulsion which functionally may impede the nasal airway by encroachment and/or “flutter valve” effect. During inspiration this unsupported upper lateral cartilage may interfere with anatomy, physiology and efficiency of the internal nasal valve function. Avulsion of the upper lateral cartilage is a definite entity and should be recognized and treated appropriately to realign the lateral cartilage in its normal anatomical position for a functional as well as a good cosmetic result.     

A new twist in nasal tip surgery. An alternative to the Goldman tip for the wide or bulbous lobule

When the cartilaginous framework in the tip of the nose fails to provide adequate support and definition, the rhinoplastic surgeon must create strength and refinement. To achieve these results, we advocate a new twist of an old concept that can be used to create a stronger, more triangular lobule in the wide, bulbous, or bifid tip. Morselizing, incising, and suturing alar cartilages have long been recognized as adjunctive procedures in tip rhinoplasty; however, the specific method described herein can provide results comparable to the classic Goldman tip while guarding against the possibility of cartilage displacement and mucous membrane entrapment.     

鼻内镜下自体软骨鼻整形同期鼻中隔偏曲矫正治疗外伤性歪鼻畸形的临床分析

目的对鼻内镜下自体软骨（鼻中隔软骨、耳软骨和肋软骨）鼻整形同期行鼻中隔偏曲矫正治疗外伤性歪鼻畸形的临床分析。方法收集2017~2018年20 例陈旧外伤性歪鼻畸形患者的临床资料,所有患者均行全麻下鼻小柱倒“V”型切口暴露松解并切除偏曲的鼻中隔软骨及骨质,针对不同患者设计使用不同软骨（鼻中隔软骨、耳软骨和肋软骨）矫正鼻中隔骨性或软骨性支架,对鼻尖、鼻背及外鼻重新塑形。结果随访3~12个月,行鼻内镜下自体软骨鼻整形同期鼻中隔偏曲矫正术的患者鼻外形及通气均有明显改善,手术效果更好,无鼻腔粘连、鼻中隔血肿及穿孔。结论鼻内镜下自体软骨鼻整形同期鼻中隔偏曲矫正治疗外伤性歪鼻畸形同期解决了鼻部畸形和鼻通气功能,实现了美容和功能的统一,同时减少了手术治疗的次数和费用,可行性高。