The Aesthetic and Functional Roles of Spreader Flap in Primary Rhinoplasty

Dorsal hump resection was considered as the most ordinary part of rhinoplasty. It is obviously noticed that when a humpectomy is performed in a primary rhinoplasty, some surgeons underestimate the middle third (internal valve) reconstruction resulting in an inverted-V deformity. Although spreader graft is the gold standard for middle vault reconstruction, attention is turned to returning a portion of the hump following dorsal reduction in an attempt to reconstruct the middle vault. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of spreader flap in primary rhinoplasties. This study included 40 patients classified into 3 groups as follows: (1) type I—mild cartilaginous hump, (2) type II—moderate cartilaginous hump, and (3) type III—huge cartilaginous hump. The results are satisfactory in most cases regarding the aesthetic and functional outcomes. Using auto-spreader flaps is shown to be simple, reproducible, and effective in shaping the midvault while keeping the internal valve intact.

Dorsal Hump Reduction Based on the New Ethmoidal Point Classification: A Clinical and Radiological Study of the Keystone Area in 138 Patients

Background Hump resection often requires reorganization of the keystone area. Objectives The authors sought to describe the importance of the point where the perpendicular plate of ethmoid joins the septal cartilage (SC) and the nasal bones (NB) (Ethmoidal point [E-point]) for hump resection surgical planning. Methods Measurements from mid-sagittal slices in nasal computed tomography scans taken in adult Caucasian patients between January 2015 and December 2018 were compared between patients seeking primary rhinoplasty due to a nasal hump and patients not seeking rhinoplasty (control group). Patients with previous nasal surgery or trauma, genetic or congenital facial disorders, and high septal deviation were excluded. The length of overlap between NB and SC was compared between the 2 groups. The location of the E-point in relation to the beginning of the nasal hump in the cephalocaudal direction was documented in the patients seeking rhinoplasty. Results The study population included 138 patients, 69 seeking and 69 not seeking rhinoplasty (96 females). The mean age was 32.9 years (range, 18-55 years). The length of overlap between NB and SC was similar between both groups (11.7 ± 3.3 vs 10.8 ± 3.3; P = 0.235). The E-point was located before the beginning of the nasal hump in 97% (67/69) of nasal hump patients, and it could be found a mean distance of 2.3 (±2.3) mm cephalic to the latter. Conclusions As a rule, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid does not contribute to the nasal hump; therefore, only in exceptional cases should this be addressed while performing dorsal reduction. Level of Evidence: 3

Replacement of the Nasal Dorsum with a Diced Cartilage Glue Graft

The reconstruction of the nasal dorsum after a hump resection is challenging if narrowing of the nose is to be avoided, the nasal skin is very thin, and the nasal bones are short. This report describes the replacement of the bony and cartilaginous nasal dorsum after resection with an anatomically shaped dorsal replacement graft of diced cartilage in fibrin glue. The technique is illustrated with a clinical case and sonographic morphometry of the nasal dorsum and tip. A modification of the diced cartilage glue graft for thin-skinned patients is presented.

Midvault Reconstruction in Primary Rhinoplasty

The nasal midvault is an important consideration in rhinoplasty. This region is defined by the attachment of the upper lateral cartilages (ULCs) to the nasal bones superiorly and the cartilaginous septum medially. Inadequate management of the nasal midvault can have negative functional and aesthetic ramifications. Indications for midvault reconstruction in primary rhinoplasty include a narrow midvault, dorsal hump resection, a deviated midvault, and an asymmetric midvault, with an additional relative indication of zone 1 lateral wall insufficiency (LWI), defined as dynamic collapse of a weakened lateral nasal wall at the level of the ULC. Numerous techniques for midvault reconstruction have been described, dating back to Sheen's description of the spreader graft in the 1980s, which remains the gold standard for repair. Herein, the various indications for midvault reconstruction are described, along with a discussion of the most commonly used techniques for successful reconstruction.