CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2012; 39(02): 113-117
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.113
Original Article

Absorbable Plate as a Perpendicular Strut for Acute Saddle Nose Deformities

Jong Gyu Kim
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
,
Seung Chul Rhee
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
,
Pil Dong Cho
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
,
Deok Jung Kim
Topclass Plastic Surgery, Seoul, Korea
,
Soo Hyang Lee
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
› Author Affiliations

Background Nasal pyramid fractures accompanied by saddle nose deformities are not easily corrected by closed reduction. We used an absorbable plate as a perpendicular strut to support the collapsed "keystone area" and obtained good results.

Methods Between September 2008 and June 2011, 18 patients who had nasal pyramid fractures with saddle nose deformities underwent surgery. Pre- and postoperative facial computed tomographic images and photographs were taken to estimate outcomes. The operative technique included the mucoperichondrial dissection of the nasal septum, insertion of an absorbable plate prepared to an appropriate length to support the "keystone area", and fixation of the absorbable plate strut to the cartilaginous septum.

Results Functional and esthetic outcomes were satisfactory in all patients. Eleven patients assessed the postoperative appearance of the external nose as 'markedly improved' and 7 patients as 'improved'. The 5 surgeons scored the results as a mean of 4.5 on a 5-point scale.

Conclusions The use of an absorbable plate as a perpendicular strut requires no additional procedures because the plate is gradually absorbed. The mechanical strength provided by a buttress between the "keystone area" and the maxillary crest lasts for a long time before the strut is absorbed.

Presented at the 66th Congress of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, May 7-9, 2009.




Publication History

Received: 10 January 2012

Accepted: 20 February 2012

Article published online:
24 April 2022

© 2012. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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