[Septal surgery in septorhinoplasty]

Partial Maxillectomy for the Improvement of Nasal Obstruction Can Be Combined with Septorhinoplasty

We describe the (anteromedial) partial maxillectomy technique which can be used to address impaired nasal breathing in cases of significant protrusion of the frontal process of the maxilla into the nasal cavity, narrowing the nasal pathway. It fits to nasal physiology avoiding mucosal resection. It can be combined with surgery of the inferior turbinate. The described technique can be used in all forms of rhinoplasty.

Objective evaluation of caudal deviation of the nasal septum and selection of the appropriate septoplasty technique

OBJECTIVE

Several methods have been reported to correct caudal deviation of the nasal septum, including open septorhinoplasty (OSR) and septoplasty with Killian incision (KI). In general, OSR is applied instead of KI for caudal deviation. However, there is little objective evidence own on the effects of OSR and KI for caudal deviation. In this study, we compared surgical outcomes between OSR and KI by quantifying nasal septum deviation using two simple and objective parameters on routine paranasal sinus CT scans.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients who underwent OSR and 11 patients who underwent septoplasty with KI between April 2006 and October 2019. Caudal deviation was defined on the basis of the "Anterior-posterior Position of the most deviated point of the nasal septum (AP)," which was measured on computerized tomography. The deformation rate (DR) of the nasal septum was also calculated. Nasal airway resistance and visual analogue scale (VAS) score for nasal obstruction were examined.

RESULTS

The AP was significantly correlated with the VAS score (r=-0.58, p=0.017). The DR in patients with caudal septal deviation was significantly decreased by OSR (0.14±0.06 to 0.03±0.03, p=0.004), but not by KI (0.09±0.08 to 0.04±0.03, p=0.25). OSR also improved nasal airway resistance (1.10±0.44 to 0.42±0.15, p=0.02), and the VAS score (79.11±14.74 to 5.78±7.89, p=0.004).

CONCLUSION

Nasal obstruction is more severe in patients with the caudal deviation. OSR corrects caudal deviation of the nasal septum more effectively than does KI. The AP could be useful for the evaluation of the deviation of the nasal septum and help in selecting the appropriate septoplastic technique.

The Use of Spreader Grafts in Revision Septoplasty

INTRODUCTION

Persistent nasal obstruction at internal nasal valve was a common problem seen after septoplasty and submucous resection, the 2 methods used for surgical treatment for deviation of nasal septum during the first half of twentieth century. The authors performed cartilage-grafting technique and retrospectively analyzed the patients after 12 months with Nasal Obstruction and Septoplasty Effectiveness scale to emphasize persistent nasal obstruction.

METHODS

In this study, 115 (65 male, 50 female) patients operated between 2008 and 2013 who underwent revision septoplasty and complaints were evaluated with Nasal Obstruction and Septoplasty Effectiveness scale. The surgical technique was used in 32 (27.8%) of the patients "open" and in 83 (72.2%) "closed" approach. Wilcoxon sign test is used for the statistical analysis. Postoperative values were statistically significant compared with preoperative ones (P <0.05).

DISCUSSION

Septoplasty and submucous resection described by Cottle and Killian are similar techniques, but a septoplasty often includes less cartilage resection and septal cartilage modification or placement of a cartilage graft instead of resection. Most important disadvantage of these techniques is to be deficient in the correction of the caudal and/or dorsal deviations. In authors' experience these classical septoplasty techniques are not suitable for columellar and dorsal deviations and especially in revision surgery an internal nasal valve correction with cartilage grafts is a necessary alternative technique.

[Treatment of nasal valve stenosis]

Nasal valve dysfunction is one of the most common causes of obstructed nasal ventilation. In most cases the cause is congenital, but iatrogenic occurrence after functional-aesthetic rhinoplasty is not infrequent. To diagnose nasal valve dysfunction, a thorough anamnesis, inspection, endoscopy, and palpation is required. If conservative therapy using rhinologic substances, as well as outer and inner stenting do not achieve the desired outcome, and the dysfunctional site can be localized, surgical procedures are indicated to improve nasal valve function. Numerous procedures and techniques are available, amongst which the most important ones shall be elucidated and discussed in the present article. These include septoplasty, septorhinoplasty, and enlargement of pyriform aperture stenosis, as well as corrections of the upper and lower lateral cartilages.

[Techniques for correction of the nasal dorsum]

Correction of the nasal dorsum ranks among the most common surgical procedures in rhinoplasty. Due to the involvement of nasal support structures such as septolateral cartilage and the K and scroll areas, these procedures have both aesthetic and functional impacts. In addition to spreader grafts and spreader flaps, the most important surgical methods currently include the split hump reduction technique, cartilage-fascia transplants and cartilage grafts from rib and ear. In addition to serving to correct deformities, the techniques described here help prevent complications such as inverted V, hourglass and saddle nose deformities, as well as nasal valve stenosis. The basic operative principle calls for reinforcement and reconstruction of the anatomical support structures, while avoiding overresection and mucosal lacerations.