CLINICAL CASES   

Rivista Italiana di Chirurgia Maxillo-Facciale 2002 August;13(2):111-21

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The use of onlay auricular cartilage grafts for reconstruction of nasal tip deformities due to previous incorrect septoplasty

Castellani A.

Division of Maxillo-Facial Surgery Civil Hospital of Brescia, Brescia

Rhinoseptoplasty requires the alteration of different anatomical structures, which are intimately interconnected and are important for the functional and aesthetic characteristics of the nose, to be precisely programmed and executed. The rhinological surgeon must master and apply both the techniques of functional rhinoplasty and those of aesthetic rhinoplasty, which increasingly tend towards a “conservative” surgical approach rather than a “resective” approach. Nevertheless, correct knowledge and performance of these techniques is not always sufficient to produce a harmonious result that is satisfactory both for the patient and for the surgeon. Indeed, as well as the mastery of surgical techniques, rhinoseptoplasty also requires an aesthetic sensitivity that goes beyond experience. Although these concepts are now well-known, it is still frequent to meet with nasal deformities consequent on insufficiently conservative surgery. The author analyses the use of onlay auricular cartilage grafts for the reconstruction of nasal tip deformities due to incorrect septoplasty.