Clinical application of the 6th autogenous costal cartilage in the treatment of severe saddle nose deformity after trauma

Objectives: Saddle nose deformity is a common clinical nose deformity. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 6th autogenous costal cartilage in the treatment of severe saddle nose deformity after trauma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 15 patients with severe post-traumatic saddle nose deformity from March, 2016 to March, 2019. The nasal tip and dorsum were reconstructed with autogenous costal cartilage. All patients were followed up for 6 to 13 months and changes in nasal appearance were evaluated. The changes in dorsum sag, nasolabial angle, nasal dorsal angle, and dorsum length were measured.

Results: Fourteen patients were basically satisfied with post-operative outcome. Only one patient developed infection afterwards, which was improved by the revised rhinoplasty 2 months after active treatment. The immediate nasal dorsal depression [(1.19±0.94) mm] and nasolabial angle [(94.06±1.52)°] after operation decreased compared with those before surgery [(8.28±0.24) mm, (109.42±2.78)°, respectively; all P<0.05]. The immediate nasal dorsal length [(44.18±1.02) mm] and nasal dorsal angle [(132.84±2.33)°] increased compared with those before operation [(31.73±1.86) mm, (122.87±2.42)°, respectively; all P<0.05]. The data at follow-ups showed no statistical difference compared with the immediate data after operation.

Conclusions: Rhinoplasty with the 6th autogenous costal cartilage is an effective method for the correction of severe saddle nose deformity after trauma.