Spreader Grafts in Functional Rhinoplasty

Management of the middle vault is paramount to achieving optimal aesthetic and functional outcomes in rhinoplasty. The ideal treatment for middle vault complications, such as internal nasal valve collapse, inverted-V deformity, and middle vault dorsal asymmetry, is prevention. Risk factors for middle vault problems in rhinoplasty that may be identified in preoperative consultation include short nasal bones, long and weak upper lateral cartilages, thin skin, previous trauma or surgery, preoperative positive Cottle maneuver, tension nose deformity, and anteriorly positioned inferior turbinates. When any of these risk factors are identified, preventive measures should be pursued. These include preservation of middle vault support structures, judicious resection in dorsal hump reduction, use of conservative osteotomies, and reconstruction of the cartilaginous middle vault with structural grafting. Spreader grafts have become the workhorse in middle vault reconstruction. They are invaluable in restoring nasal dorsal aesthetic lines, repairing or maintaining the internal nasal valve, and buttressing a corrected crooked nose. Functional and aesthetic problems related to the middle nasal vault are among the most common reasons for patients seeking revision rhinoplasty. Although complications in rhinoplasty are inevitable, underlying their etiology and instituting prophylactic treatment can significantly help reduce their occurrence.