Use of Porous Polyethylene Implants in Nasal Reconstruction

ABSTRACT Introduction Patients undergoing complex rhinoplasty, following previous trauma or cartilage deteriorating disease processes, present a surgical challenge. The availability of septal cartilage maybe limited, and alternative graft materials should be considered. Methods A retrospective study of our experience using the porous polyethylene (Medpor®) implant in nasal reconstruction was conducted. The indications for surgery are reviewed and the surgical outcomes noted. We also review the literature on available nasal implants and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. Results A total of 22 Medpor® nasal implants were used for augmentation rhinoplasty over a 6 and half years period. Three patients experienced a surgical complication, including one slipped dorsal implant, and two patients with graft extrusion. Both of these two patients had concomitant disease processes that would have resulted in a poor tissue microenvironment, which may have contributed to their graft failures. Conclusion In our experience, the Medpor® implant has proved very successful in patients requiring complex rhinoplasty, in a normal host tissue microenvironment.