Open rhinoplasty using conchal cartilage during childhood to correct unilateral cleft-lip nasal deformities

Although many articles have investigated the optimal method for the primary correction of nasal deformities during unilateral cleft lip repair, residual nasal deformities often remain. Such residual deformities are commonly corrected around the age of 5. We have started performing two-stage nasal repair operations for unilateral cleft lip patients. During the first stage, the nasal floor is elevated, and the alar base is brought into the correct position by muscle reconstruction during primary lip repair. During the second stage, the slanting nasal apex and drooping alar rim are corrected at pre-school age. This article describes the methods and results of second-stage open rhinoplasty.

Open rhinoplasty is performed. The conchal cartilage is harvested and used as a strut to strengthen and extend the septum. The lower lateral cartilages are sutured to the grafted cartilage and fixed in the correct position. The operative results of 38 patients were evaluated photogrammetrically. The nasal height, nostril height and the columella angle on a basilar view of the nose were measured.

In most patients, the nose was refined and became less distorted. Poorly projecting nasal tips and drooping alar rims were corrected. The reformed configuration was relatively well maintained for many years. Photogrammetric analysis demonstrated increases in both the nasal height to nasal width ratio and the nostril height to nostril width ratio, and improvement of the columella angle.

Performing open rhinoplasty using conchal cartilage during childhood effectively improves unilateral cleft-lip nasal deformities.