Rhinoplasty

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Nasal Anatomy & Pre-op Eval - Blueprinting the Beak

  • Bony Vault: Nasal bones, maxilla (frontal process).
  • Cartilaginous Vault:
    • Septal cartilage: Key for dorsal/caudal support.
    • Upper Lateral Cartilages (ULCs): Articulate with nasal bones superiorly, septum medially, LLCs inferiorly.
    • Lower Lateral Cartilages (LLCs): Medial, middle, lateral crura; define tip shape & projection.
  • Nasal Tip Support Mechanisms:
    • Major: LLC size/strength, medial crura attachment to caudal septum, ULC-LLC scroll area.
    • Minor: Interdomal ligaments, sesamoid cartilages, skin-SMAS envelope.
  • Pre-operative Evaluation:
    • History: Aesthetic goals, functional symptoms (e.g., obstruction).
    • Examination: Skin thickness, palpation of bony/cartilaginous framework.
    • Frankfort Horizontal Plane: Tragion to infraorbital rim; standard for facial analysis.
    • Photographic Views: Standard 6 views (AP, base, R/L lateral, R/L oblique).
    • Indications: Aesthetic deformity, post-traumatic defects, functional airway compromise.
    • Contraindications: Unrealistic expectations, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), active nasal/sinus infection, significant coagulopathy. Nasal Framework Anatomy: Bones, Cartilages, and Soft Tissue

⭐ The scroll area, the junction of the caudal edge of the ULCs and the cephalic edge of the LLCs, plays a crucial role in internal nasal valve function and airway resistance.

Rhinoplasty Techniques - Sculpting the Snout

  • Approaches: Decision based on complexity & surgeon preference.
  • Key Maneuvers:
    • Hump Reduction: Cartilaginous (Scrubb technique) & bony (osteotomes/rasps).
    • Osteotomies: To narrow nasal bones or close open roof deformity.
      • Lateral: From pyriform aperture to medial canthus (curved/straight).
      • Medial: Oblique or transverse, from caudal bony dorsum.
    • Tip Modification:
      • Suturing: Cephalic trim, interdomal, transdomal sutures.
      • Grafts: Columellar strut (tip support), tip grafts (definition).
    • Spreader Grafts: Placed between upper lateral cartilages & septum.

Rhinoplasty: Conventional vs. One-Piece Nasal Osteotomy

Spreader grafts are crucial for widening the middle nasal vault and improving internal nasal valve function, addressing nasal obstruction.

  • Other Grafts: Dorsal onlay, alar batten, rim grafts.
  • Closure: Meticulous, multi-layered closure for optimal healing.

Grafts & Implants - Borrowing Beauty Bits

Conchal Cartilage Harvest for Rhinoplasty

  • 📌 Autograft sources: Septal, Conchal, Costal (SCC).
Graft TypeSource(s) / Material(s)ProsConsCommon Uses
AutograftsSeptal, conchal, costal cartilageBest biocompatibility, low rejection, integratesDonor morbidity, limited supply, warping (costal)Dorsal/tip augmentation, spreader/strut grafts
HomograftsCadaveric cartilage (irradiated)No donor morbidity, available↑Resorption, disease risk (rare), less viableMajor support if autografts insufficient
AlloplastsSilicone, Gore-Tex (ePTFE), MedporUnlimited supply, no donor morbidity, shapableInfection/extrusion risk, palpability, capsuleDorsal augmentation, alar battens

Post-op Care & Complications - Nose Job Aftermath

  • Immediate Post-op:
    • Nasal packing (optional, up to 24-48h); external splint (7-10 days).
    • Head elevation, ice packs for edema/ecchymosis (peaks 48-72h).
    • Analgesia, prophylactic antibiotics.
  • Early Complications:
    • Bleeding: Most common. Packing, vasoconstrictors, or cautery.
    • Infection: Cellulitis, abscess. Systemic antibiotics.
    • Septal Hematoma: Fluctuant, bluish septal swelling. Urgent I&D to prevent cartilage necrosis.
  • Late Complications:
    • Pollybeak Deformity: Supratip fullness.

      ⭐ Pollybeak deformity is often due to under-resection of supratip cartilage, over-resection of bony dorsum, or excessive scar tissue.

    • Inverted V Deformity: Visible upper lateral cartilage (ULC) edges.
    • Saddle Nose: Dorsal nasal collapse.
    • Nasal Valve Collapse: Airway obstruction.
    • Persistent asymmetry, numbness, or pain. Spreader Graft for Internal Valve Collapse and Inverted V
  • Management: Varies; observation, medical (e.g., steroid injections for scar), or revision surgery for persistent functional/aesthetic issues.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • The nasal dorsum consists of bony (nasal bones, maxillary frontal process) and cartilaginous (Upper Lateral Cartilages, septum) parts.
  • Major tip support mechanisms involve alar cartilages, medial crural footplate attachment to septum, and the scroll region (interlocking ULCs and LLCs).
  • Open rhinoplasty employs a transcolumellar incision for wide exposure; closed approaches use endonasal incisions (e.g., marginal, intercartilaginous).
  • Septal cartilage is the preferred graft material due to its strength and proximity; conchal and costal cartilage are alternatives.
  • Common complications include saddle nose deformity (dorsal collapse), pollybeak deformity (supratip fullness), and persistent nasal obstruction.
  • The Cottle maneuver (lateral cheek traction) helps diagnose internal nasal valve collapse as a cause of obstruction.
  • Ideal nasolabial angle is 90-95° for males and 95-105° for females; crucial for aesthetic outcomes.

Practice Questions: Rhinoplasty

Test your understanding with these related questions

Which of the following is the POOREST recipient bed for a skin graft?

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Flashcards: Rhinoplasty

1/4

Surgeries for congenital malformations of the pinna (auricle) are usually performed around the ages of _____ years.

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Surgeries for congenital malformations of the pinna (auricle) are usually performed around the ages of _____ years.

5 or 6

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