Cephalometric long-term follow-up of nasal augmentation using iliac bone graft.

INTRODUCTION: Iliac bone grafts for nasal augmentation are characterized by resorption. In this article, the relationship between graft resorption and soft tissue retrusion is examined by cephalogram-based measurements. METHODS: Ten patients with nasal deformity underwent iliac bone grafts to the nose and were monitored using cephalograms at intervals. On every image, three distances were measured; the tip height and the upper and lower lengths of the graft. RESULTS: The upper length of the grafted bone reached 90% stability after 6 months, and the lower length reached 70% stability between 1 and 2 years postoperatively. At the tip, supported by the lower part of the grafted bone, the soft tissue projection reached 90% stability after 6 months. DISCUSSION: The lower part of the iliac bone grafted onto the nasal dorsum supports the projecting soft tissue of the nasal tip. Thus subsequent resorption of the graft results in retrusion of the nasal tip. However, the degree of soft tissue retrusion was obviously less than the amount by which the supporting bone resorbed. It seems likely that the augmentation effect persists due to the formation of scar tissue.