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Facial Plast Surg 2021; 37(01): 092-097
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1722957
Original Article

Reconstruction of a Severely Damaged Cartilaginous Septum with a Bypass L-Strut Graft using Costal Cartilage

Woo Ri Choi
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
,
Yong Ju Jang
2   Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Abstract

Objective Reconstruction of a weakened septal cartilage is a key procedure for the correction of deformed noses. However, when septal mucoperichondrium dissection is technically challenging, reconstruction of the lower two-thirds of the nose should be performed bypassing the damaged septal cartilage and mucosa. This article summarizes our experience with treating patients with severely damaged septal cartilage with bypass L-strut graft using costal cartilage.

Methods We retrospectively reviewed 26 patients who underwent rhinoplasty using bypass L-strut graft. Autologous costal cartilage was used for creating L-strut in two different ways: (1) by fashioning the L-shaped graft as one unit using the sixth rib cartilage and (2) by integrating a dorsal strut with a columellar strut using slices of the seventh rib cartilage. The caudal strut is fixated to the anterior nasal spine; the dorsal L-strut is placed on the nasal dorsum with no fixation to the nasal bone. Medical records were assessed for demographic, clinical, and treatment information.

Results One-piece-type L-strut graft was used for 11 patients and integrated-type L-strut graft was used for 15 patients. No statistical differences were found in postoperative aesthetic outcomes between the two groups. The postoperative assessment of surgical outcomes was excellent in 10 patients, good in 10, fair in 6, and poor in none. Functionally, all 26 patients experienced improvements in nasal breathing.

Conclusion Bypass L-strut graft using costal cartilage is a useful surgical maneuver of septal reconstruction in particular nasal deformity when the creation of the septal mucoperichondrial pocket is difficult or better to be avoided.

Keywords

augmentation rhinoplasty - L-shaped implants - costal cartilage grafts - septal cartilage damage - nasal deformity


Publication History

Article published online:
08 February 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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