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Study: Alar rim graft use would benefit majority of primary, secondary rhinoplasty patients

According to researchers, alar rim graft use during rhinoplasty procedures can help prevent cloverleaf deformity of the nasal base, as well as result in the elongation and widening of the nostril, the improvement in external valve function, and the avoidance or correction of the alar retraction.

In a retrospective review of 1,427 patients who underwent nose reconstruction at one center, the researchers recorded patients' intraoperative data with the goal of examining the frequency at which alar rim grafts were used and documenting any intraoperative changes to related structures.

Bahman Guyuron

Of the patients included in the review, 565 received alar rim grafts, with 73 grafts used in primary reconstruction. Twenty of the initial 1,437 patients received an alar rim graft during secondary reconstruction; alar rim grafts were also used in two revision nose reconstructions, 304 primary rhinoplasties, 107 secondary rhinoplasties, 43 revisions after primary rhinoplasties and seven revisions after secondary rhinoplasties.

In an additional group of 100 more-recent cases, the researchers found 88% of patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty and 67% of patients who underwent secondary rhinoplasty received alar rim grafts, as well.

Among the changes observed by the researchers after the insertion of each graft were the correction of the concavity of the ala, caudal advancement of the ala, elongation of the short nostril and widening of the nostril.

According to the researchers, most patients undergoing rhinoplasty would benefit from the use of alar rim graft. Additionally, the researchers' findings appeared to highlight an increase in the use of alar rim graft. - by Abigail Sutton

Disclosures: Guyuron receives royalties from Elsevier for the book entitled Rhinoplasty. The other authors reported no financial disclosures.