The external rhinoplasty approach for congenital nasal lesions in children

Congenital lesions of the nose can be challenging to excise. While some lesions carry infection risks, in most cases surgery is primarily performed for cosmesis. Some lesions may extend up to the skull base and this can occasionally be missed on MRI scans. Surgical access has to allow complete excision in all circumstances, but access must be balanced against cosmetic results. We present our experience of the external rhinoplasty approach which allows wide access with little visible scarring.

Retrospective chart review of all cases performed between November 2003 and October 2009.

15 children underwent excisional surgery using the external rhinoplasty approach. They were aged 1-5 years at the time of surgery, and 12 were male. Pathology comprised congenital midline nasal dermoid cysts in 13 (of which 4 extended intracranially), extranasal glioma in 1 and non-resolving haemangioma in 1. The surgical approach provided adequate visualisation in all cases. The children with intracranial dermoids had resection and repair of the dura as part of their procedure. No post-operative CSF leaks occurred. One child with nasal dermoid had a small cyst recurrence in the skin of the nasal tip requiring further surgery but no deep recurrences occurred. Follow up ranges from 3 months to 6 years. Children with widened nasal bones before surgery have all shown rapid bony remodelling after surgery.

The external rhinoplasty approach offers excellent access in young children, even for intracranial lesions.