Management of posttraumatic nasal deformities: the crooked nose and the saddle nose

The crooked nose deformity and the saddle nose deformity represent two of the most challenging complications of nasal trauma. Optimal management requires careful preoperative analysis and thoughtful surgical planning. The surgeon must make the mental and philosophical commitment to address the difficult cosmetic components and the functional problems related to these deformities. Because these conditions result from disruptions of the nasal septum, their surgical correction mandates use of techniques that modify the septum, and they might require reconstruction of the sacrosanct dorsal-caudal strut. By understanding the three-dimensional anatomy of this L-shaped strut, how its relationship to the other structural components of the nose determines external nasal contour, and the techniques available to stabilize this structure into an optimal position, the surgeon can correct these difficult cosmetic problems effectively while maintaining the overall structural and functional integrity of the nose.