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Primary septal cartilage graft may improve outcomes in primary rhinoplasty

Patients undergoing primary rhinoplasty who received septal cartilage as an alar rim graft experienced improved nostril height and long-term outcomes compared with those who did not.

Over the last decade, the researchers have been exploring the use of septal cartilage as an alar rim graft on the cleft side during primary rhinoplasty. In the current study, they compared nasal shape with or without rim graft in a cohort of 98 patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. The data set included 39 patients who received septal cartilage as the rim graft and 59 who did not.

Patients in the graft group had a higher nostril height than those without a rim graft (P = .003). The height-to-width ratio (P < .001) and the nasal dome height (P < .001) were also higher in the graft group.

More consistency of the nostril shape and axis were also significantly improved in the graft arm (P < .05).

However, there was no significant difference between the study arms in terms of nasolabial angle and tip projection. – by Rob Volansky

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.