Asian Cleft Rhinoplasty: The Open Structural Approach

Rhinoplasty Exclusively Utilizing Autologous Costal Cartilage for Patients with Prior Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair

Background

Rhinoplasty in patients with previous unilateral cleft lip repair is a surgical challenge due to complex nasal deformities, including a horizontally positioned nasal wing, wide cleft side nostrils, nasal base defects, and a short and deviated nasal columella. To comprehensively address these complexities, we exclusively utilized autologous costal cartilage in rhinoplasty procedures, using various surgical techniques.

Methods

This study presents a comprehensive case series of 39 patients who had previously undergone unilateral cleft lip surgery but still had nasal deformities. Rhinoplasty using autologous costal cartilage was performed at Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam. Costal cartilage was partially crushed and then finely cut to shape the dorsal area and raise the nasal base on the cleft side. Partially crushed cartilage was also used to shape shield grafts, cap grafts, and alar batten grafts, whereas sliced cartilage was utilized for septal extension grafts. Evaluation was based on improvements in anthropometric indicators, patient satisfaction using Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) scale and FACE-Q scores.

Results

The average age of patients was 25.13 years. All postoperative anthropometric indicators showed significant improvements. Postsurgery, the total ROE score was three times higher than before surgery (P < 0.001), and the total FACE-Q score was 2.26 times higher (P < 0.001). No significant intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed.

Conclusions

This procedure effectively addresses complex nasal deformities in patients with prior unilateral cleft lip repair, emphasizing the value of autologous costal cartilage in rhinoplasty for such individuals.

Secondary Bilateral Cleft Rhinoplasty: Achieving an Aesthetic Result

BACKGROUND

Secondary rhinoplasty in patients with bilateral cleft lip poses ongoing challenges and requires a reliable method for achieving optimal outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to establish a safe and effective method for secondary bilateral cleft rhinoplasty.

METHODS

A consecutive series of 92 skeletally matured patients with bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity were included. All had undergone secondary open rhinoplasty, performed by a single surgeon with a bilateral reverse-U flap and septal extension graft, between 2013 and 2021. Medical records of these 92 patients were reviewed to assess the clinical course. A 3-dimensional (3D) anthropometric analysis and panel assessment of 32 patients were performed to evaluate the aesthetic improvement, with an age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched normal control group for comparisons.

RESULTS

The methods showed statistically significant improvement in addressing a short columella (columellar height), short nasal bridge (nasal bridge length), de-projected nasal tip (nasal tip projection, nasal dorsum angle), poorly defined nasal tip (nasal tip angle, dome height, and panel assessment), and transversely oriented nostrils (columellar height, alar width, nostril type). Importantly, these improvements were accompanied by a low complication rate of 4%. However, upper lip deficiency over the upper lip angle and labial-columellar angle remained without significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study we described effective secondary rhinoplasty, which was composed of a bilateral reverse-U flap and septal extension graft, with acceptable outcome. The 3D anthropometric analysis and panel assessment clarified that our rhinoplasty procedure could bring the nasal morphology in these patients closer to the normal data.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

A New Algorithm for Secondary Repair of Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity

OBJECTIVES

Following primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip palate (UCLP), cleft lip nasal deformities (CLNDs) (nasal asymmetry, collapsed nasal alae, and a widened alar base) are generally inevitable and often require secondary rhinoplasty. However, reconstructing a cleft nose with an alar tissue deficiency remains challenging for rhinoplasty surgeons.

METHODS

The manifestations of common deformities are described herein, and a secondary rhinoplasty technique for unilateral CLNDs using a nasolabial flap (NLF) has been proposed for patients with alar tissue deficiency. Secondary rhinoplasties were performed in 12 patients with unilateral CLNDs between 2020 and 2021 using a NLF. Photogrammetric measurements were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. A total of 12 flaps were successfully transferred. Ten patients were followed up for >1 year.

RESULTS

Significant postoperative decreases in nasal alar width were measured in both the base view (p < 0.050) and the frontal view (p < 0.050). Despite the additional facial scars that occurred in some cases, all patients were satisfied with the aesthetic effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The NLF achieved satisfactory results in secondary rhinoplasty of unilateral CLND for patients with nasal tissue deficiencies in whom the surgeon weighed the potential benefits over postoperative scarring.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 134:1648-1655, 2024.

"Septoplasty" Performed at Primary Cleft Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review of Techniques and Call for Accurate Terminology

OBJECTIVE

Primary cleft nasal repair can include septal reconstruction. We hypothesize that primary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty have fundamental differences that render these procedures as distinct surgical entities.

DESIGN

Systematic review of the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases performed on pediatric cleft and general adult septoplasty techniques through December 2021. (PROSPERO ID CRD42022295763).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Collected data included information on septal dissection, septal detachment, and management of the bony and cartilaginous septum.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight pediatric cleft septoplasty and 229 adult septoplasty studies were included. Dissection in primary cleft septoplasty was limited to the anterocaudal septum, while secondary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty techniques entailed wide exposures of the cartilaginous septum with or without exposure of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid. In primary cleft septoplasty, detachment of the septum was mostly limited to the nasal spine and anterior base of the cartilaginous septum, while secondary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty included detachment from the vomer, and ethmoid. In the few reports of cartilage excision during primary cleft septoplasty, removal was limited to the anterior inferior border of the septum, while secondary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty included excision of the cartilaginous and bony septum.

CONCLUSION

Primary cleft septoplasty is distinct from septoplasty performed on facially mature patients. More specifically, septal dissection and detachment are limited to the anterior caudal area during primary lip repair, with rare removal of cartilage or bone. Given these differences, the authors suggest the term "septal reset" to describe septoplasty performed during primary cleft nasal repair.

Utilization of images and three-dimensional custom-made nostril retainer fabricate for patients with cleft lip and cleft lip nose deformities at Siriraj Hospital: preliminary phase

A prospective study utilizing image analysis to assess nostril openings in post-operative patients with cleft lip and cleft lip nose deformities. This preliminary study seeks to employ two-dimensional (2D) images to fabricate a custom-made nostril retainer. This study was performed at Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. This study included 30 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with cleft lip and cleft lip nose deformities. The nostril opening width and height for all participants were measured, and photographs were taken. An image analysis application was used to fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) custom-made nostril retainer. The mean differences between the direct measurements of the nostril aperture and the measurements obtained through the program did not exceed 2 mm in terms of nostril height, width, or columella. Two-dimensional photographs can be used to create a custom-made, three-dimensional nostril retainer. This retainer allows post-operative patients to maintain their nares without needing to visit the hospital, thereby reducing the cost of care.

Versatility of the Fixed-Mobile Septal Extension Graft for Nasal Tip Reshaping

SUMMARY

Key goals of nasal tip reshaping include precise control of tip shape and position, along with restoration of proper structural support. Unfortunately, traditional techniques attempting to address these goals have yielded unpredictable results. In this article, the authors detail their surgical technique and discuss the numerous aesthetic and functional benefits of this graft, along with its applicability to a wide variety of patient populations and nasal deformities. The authors' technique utilizing the fixed-mobile septal extension graft has demonstrated reliability in establishing proper tip positioning through precise adjustments to tip rotation and projection, while simultaneously providing a stable structure for maintaining tip support. While fixed at the anterior septal angle, this graft also proves beneficial in maintaining natural tip mobility because of its anterior extension past the septum. The fixed-mobile septal extension graft is versatile and reliable when used for tip reshaping and support.

Race-Based Differences in the Utilization and Timing of Secondary Cleft Procedures in the United States

Primary CL/P repair, revisions, and secondary procedures-cleft rhinoplasty, speech surgery, and alveolar bone grafting (ABG)-performed from 2014-2018 were identified from the Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Utilization estimates were derived via univariable and multivariable logistic regression. A Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test and multivariable linear regression were used to assess differences in timing for each procedure cohort.

The primary outcome measures were the odds of a patient being a certain race/ethnicity, and the age at which patients of different race/ethnicity receive surgery.

There were 23 780 procedures analyzed. After controlling for sex, diagnosis, and functional status, there were significant differences in utilization estimates across procedure groups. Primarily, utilization was lowest in patient who were Black for cleft rhinoplasty (OR = 0.70, P = .023), ABG (OR = 0.44, P < .001) and speech surgery (OR = 0.57, P = .012), and highest in patients who were Asian patients in all surgery cohorts (OR 2.05-4.43). Timing of surgery also varied by race, although differences were minimal.

CONCLUSIONS

Estimates of utilization and timing of secondary cleft procedures varied by race, particularly among patients who were Black (poor utilization) or Asian (high utilization). Further studies should identify the causes and implications of underutilized and/or delayed cleft care.

Application of Diced Autologous Rib Cartilage for Paranasal Augmentation in Cleft Nose

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect of diced cartilage on correcting nasal alar base depression in Asian cleft rhinoplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients with nasal deformity, who underwent the second cleft rhinoplasty between January 2018 and January 2020. Autologous costal cartilage was harvested in all the patients to reconstruct the contour of the nose, while the remaining cartilage from the surgery was cut into 1.0×1.0 mm pieces and filled into the nasal alar base. The preoperative and postoperative effects of visual images were compared and analyzed using Adobe Photoshop CS6 software. The patients were followed up for 8-18 months (mean 12 months) to investigate the satisfaction and complication rate.

RESULTS

The nasal alar base depression was corrected, and the profile of malformed noses was significantly improved in 25 patients after the surgery. The postoperative effect was satisfactory, and no obvious graft shift or other complications were observed in the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of diced cartilage to correct nasal alar base depression after cleft lip surgery is a feasible method. Its advantages include mainly the crafty use of the remaining cartilage and the presentation of a more natural appearance than mass cartilage.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

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