Effect of septoplasty with a caudal septal batten graft on changes in nasal shape

This study aimed to determine frequency of external nasal deformities in patients with deviated septa and the effect of endonasalseptoplasty with batten grafting on the external nasal appearance.

The 52 patients who underwent endonasalseptoplasty with a batten graft for the correction of caudal septal deviations were included in the study. The preoperative and postoperative photographs of 52 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Gross changes (nasal deviation, dorsal middle vault height, tip height change, and nostril asymmetry) were assessed. Anthropometric measurements (dorsal height, nasal tip projection, nasolabial angle, nasofrontal angle, and deviation angle) were performed.

Preoperative assessment showed that 71% of the 52 patients had deformities, including nasal deviation (n=28), hump nose (n=19), saddle nose (n=3), and nostril asymmetry (n=15). On postoperative analysis, favorable changes in dorsal deviations were seen in 61% of patients. There were no aesthetic changes for hump or saddle nose deformities, whereas nostril asymmetry was corrected in 20% of patients. Anthropometric measurements also showed that dorsal deviation angles were corrected after surgery (P<.05), whereas other parameters showed no significant changes.

In selected cases, deviated noses can be corrected to some extent by septoplasty with caudal septal batten grafting.