The olecranon bone graft for nasal augmentation

Augmentation rhinoplasty using olecranon bone graft

Background:

Correction of saddle nose deformity is one of the most frequently sought surgeries by patients seeking rhinoplasty in Asian countries. Nasal dorsal augmentation always requires graft material to achieve the desired result. Various autologous grafts and alloplastic materials have been described in the literature with their advantages and disadvantages. We report our study on the use of olecranon bone graft for augmentation rhinoplasty in severe saddle nose deformity and discuss our experience with it.

Materials and Methods:

In this observational study, 12 patients who underwent dorsal nasal augmentation using olecranon bone graft from August 2011 to December 2020 were studied. All ten patients with congenital deformity underwent graft insertion through a closed rhinoplasty approach, whereas two patients with posttraumatic deformity were operated through old scars over the nasal dorsum. The graft was fixed with screws at nasion in both posttraumatic cases. All the patients were evaluated postoperatively at regular intervals for graft resorption by clinical photographs and X-ray nasal bone.

Results:

The age ranged from 20 years to 48 years. No immediate complications related to graft placement were noted. One patient had a hairline fracture of the ulna at the donor site on the 3^rd postoperative day which was managed conservatively with a cast. The mean follow-up period was 2 years. No nasal dorsum projection loss or signs of bone resorption were observed for up to 5 years after surgery. One patient with posttraumatic deformity required removal of fixation screw which got exposed after 2 years of surgery.

Conclusion:

Olecranon bone graft is a suitable material for nasal dorsal augmentation in severe saddle nose deformity because of ease of harvest and minimal donor area morbidity. The appropriate thickness of the cortex of the olecranon process allows custom molding and provides resistance to resorption in long term, thereby giving a desirable outcome.

The Versatile Posterior Auricular Fascia in Secondary Rhinoplasty Procedures

BACKGROUND

Secondary rhinoplasty often involves the addition of autogenous graft material to add volume, structure, support and to camouflage cartilage and bone grafts. A variety of fascias have been used to camouflage, wrap and give "fill" in secondary rhinoplasty. The posterior auricular fascia is a source of material ideal for such purposes, and its quantity, anatomical structure and ease of harvest with minimal donor site morbidity make it a versatile and attractive autogenous graft.

METHODS

The clinical records of patients receiving autogenous posterior auricular fascial grafts were reviewed. There were two main uses of this graft material, one was to cover the tip reconstruction in secondary rhinoplasties under thin tip skin. This is a camouflage graft. The second use is for fill and augmentation, especially for the nasal dorsum and as an interpostitional graft between the dorsum and the tip.

CONCLUSION

The posterior auricular fascial graft has many potential uses in secondary rhinoplasties and is readily harvested as a generous graft concurrent to conchal cartilage harvest and with a concealed scar behind the ear.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

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Comparing Morbidities of Bone Graft Harvesting from the Olecranon Process and the Distal Radius

The aim of this study is to compare donor-site morbidities between patients who underwent bone graft harvesting from either the olecranon process (OP) or the distal radius (DR).

METHODS

We evaluated 44 patients who underwent bone graft harvesting from the OP (25 cases) or the DR (19 cases) for various procedures in the ipsilateral upper extremity. Follow-up averaged 14 (OP group) and 19 months (DR group). Outcome measures included visual analog scales (VAS) for graft harvest-site pain and scar appearance, joint motion, and x-rays of the graft harvest and recipient sites. The VAS scores ranged from 0 to 10 with a low score reflecting no pain and excellent satisfaction and a high score reflecting severe pain and poor satisfaction.

RESULTS

The VAS scores for pain averaged 0.4 (OP) and 0.5 (DR), and the VAS scores for scar appearance averaged 0.3 (OP) and 0.7 (DR). These differences were not significant. Within each group, there were no significant differences between the operative and nonoperative limbs for elbow or wrist motion. Early graft harvest-site complications involved 1 superficial wound infection (OP) and 1 wound dehiscence (DR). A graft harvest-site defect was detected by x-ray in 84% of OP cases and in 67% of DR cases. Bone healing at the graft recipient sites was observed in more than 87% of cases in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Bone graft harvesting from either the OP or the DR led to comparable patient- and evaluator-determined outcomes with low risks of complications. Surgeons can safely use either option.

Cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation

BACKGROUND

This study sought to determine the efficacy of cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation. Nine cases of augmentation rhinoplasty with cortical tibial bone graft are presented.

METHODS

This prospective study evaluated the postoperative results of nine patients who underwent augmentation rhinoplasty using cortical tibial bone graft. There were six males and three females aged between 21 and 36 years (mean age 29). All the nine cases were treated through closed rhinoplasty incisions.

RESULTS

Nine patients were operated on and the average follow up was 18 months. The results were favorable. The aesthetic results were gratifying; with good nasal projection in every case without any significant postoperative effects or complications requiring surgery were noted during the follow up.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study support the use of cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation although further studies with more sample size are required.

Radial bone graft usage for nasal septal reconstruction

Background:

Although various techniques have been described for correction of crooked and saddle nose deformities, these problems are challenging with high recurrence and revision rates. Conventional septal surgery may not be adequate for nose reconstruction in crooked and saddle nose deformities.

Materials and Methods:

Between December 2005 and October 2009, six patients with crooked nose and five patients with saddle nose deformities underwent corrective surgery in our clinic. All patients were male, and the mean age was 21 years (range, 19-23 years). We used rigid radial bone graft to prevent redeviation and recurrence following corrective nasal septal surgery.

Results:

The mean follow-up period was 28 months, ranging from 18 to 46 months. Mean operation time was 4 hours (3-4.5). All patients healed uneventfully. None of the patients required secondary surgery.

Conclusions:

We believe that radial bone grafts offer a long lasting support in treatment of challenging cases with crooked and saddle nose deformities.

Olecranon bone graft: revisited

Autogenous bone grafts are frequently in use in the field of reconstructive upper extremity surgery. Cancellous bone grafts are applied to traumatic osseous defects, nonunions, defects after the resection of benign bone tumors, arthrodesis, and osteotomy procedures. Cancellous bone grafts do not only have benefits such as rapid revascularization, but they also have mechanical advantages. Despite the proximity to the primary surgical field, cancellous olecranon grafts have not gained the popularity they deserve in the field of reconstructive hand surgery. In this study, the properties, advantages, and technical details of harvesting cancellous olecranon grafts are discussed.

Current status of grafts and implants in rhinoplasty: part I. Autologous grafts

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand the challenges in restoring volume and structural integrity in rhinoplasty. 2. Identify the appropriate uses of various autografts in aesthetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty (septal cartilage, auricular cartilage, costal cartilage, calvarial and nasal bone, and olecranon process of the ulna). 3. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of each of these autografts.

SUMMARY

This review specifically addresses the use of autologous grafts in rhinoplasty. Autologous materials remain the preferred graft material for use in rhinoplasty because of their high biocompatibility and low risk of infection and extrusion. However, these advantages should be counterbalanced with the concerns of donor-site morbidity, graft availability, and graft resorption.

Cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation: donor site short scar

The nose is the central part of the face and the most prominent facial feature. Augmentation rhinoplasty is one of the most exciting and arduous techniques for plastic surgeon and patient. Fourteen cases of augmentation rhinoplasty with cortical tibial bone graft are presented. An endonasal approach was used in 13 cases and an open approach in one case, with a donor site short scar (1.5 cm) in every case. The average follow up was 2 years and no significant bone resorption was observed. No remarkable complications or complications requiring surgery were noted during the follow up. The cosmetics results have been gratifying.

The Eurasian nose: aesthetic principles and techniques for augmentation of the asian nose with autogenous grafting

Nasal augmentation is a highly popular technique used among Asian patients to change the characteristic flat Asian nose to a more prominent nose. The extent of augmentation is determined by the aesthetic desires of the patient, and the method of augmentation is provided by the surgeon, who takes into account the technical limitations of his or her preferred technique and the proposed surgical result. Although a silicone prosthesis is the most common implant used to improve the nasal appearance, the author prefers an autogenous approach with the olecranon bone used as a dorsal implant and conchal cartilages used to improve nasal tip projection because of the long-term stable results. A series of 31 cases over 15 years is reviewed. The technique varies little from that described for saddle nose by Hodgkinson in 1992 [5]. The procedure is a variation of the ulnar donor site originally described by Antia et al. [1].

Clinical application of biotechnically cultured autologous chondrocytes as novel graft material for nasal augmentation

A new method of nasal augmentation has been developed, in which cultured autologous chondrocytes are transplanted. Using biotechnology, a piece of the choncha cartilage 1 cm2 is cultured into a gel-type mass of chondrocytes, which then is transplanted by injection into a surgically created subperiosteal skin pocket on the nasal dorsum. The augmented nose is taped and protected for 1 week. The grafted chondrocytes develop into mature cartilaginous tissue after approximately 1 month. This method was used in eight cases of nasal augmentation, and one case of chin augmentation (performed simultaneously), and one case of depressed deformity on the forehead. The results obtained by this method to date have been satisfactory after a follow-up time of 6 to 24 months. The authors believe that this method may at least partially be able to replace silicone implantation for nasal augmentation.

Long-term outcome of autogenous rib graft nasal reconstruction

Whereas reconstruction of the hypoplastic nose with rib grafting is common, the long-term outcomes of nasal growth and aesthetics are unknown. This study assessed nasal morphometrics, patient satisfaction, and the perception of nasal appearance by others up to 15 years after nasal reconstruction using cantilevered autogenous chondro-osseous rib grafting with rigid internal fixation in children. Records of all patients who received nasal rib grafts between 1983 and 1998 by one senior surgeon were reviewed. Patients in this study were operated on before their late teens and had greater than 1-year follow-up including serial photographic documentation. Nasal growth was determined by comparing anthropometric measurements preoperatively, perioperatively, and postoperatively. Patient satisfaction was determined through a questionnaire that addressed memory, donor-site morbidity, and nasal perception. Independent, blinded skilled observers who reviewed frontal and lateral photographs of the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative intervals assessed nasal aesthetics. Thirty-two patients who underwent 38 rib graft reconstructions of the nasal dorsum and tip at an average age of 8.8 years constitute the study population. Six patients underwent secondary augmentation. The average interval between initial nasal reconstruction and evaluation for this study was 7.9 years. Comparative anthropometric measurements before and after surgery documented increases in both tip projection (2.3 percent) and nasal length (3.0 percent) and a decrease in nasolabial angle (1.9 percent). Patient satisfaction interview response rate was 100 percent of those whom we were able to contact (28 of 32). The average age at interview was 17.2 years. Most patients recalled the operation and denied recollection of pain. Donor-site long-term morbidity was not an issue for 86 percent of patients. Sixty-four percent of patients remembered their preoperative nasal appearance and 89 percent of these preferred the postoperative change and were not concerned with nasal scars or texture. Almost two-thirds of the patients had fixation screws removed from the nasal dorsum because of skin erosion, easy palpability, or visibility. Although several patients expressed a desire to make minor additional changes to their nose, only one of these elected offered presurgical consultation and none have had such surgery. The postoperative nasal appearance compared with that preoperatively was rated as improved for 66.3 percent of responses, 26.5 percent as unchanged, and 7.2 percent as deteriorated. Cantilevered autogenous chondro-osseous rib graft reconstruction of the nasal dorsum is an effective means of reconstruction for the hypoplastic nose in childhood with respect to morphometric measurements, patient self-perception, and the assessment of nasal appearance by others.