Nose underdevelopment - etiology, diagnosis and treatment

Clinical picture of nose underdevelopment is very polymorphic. It can exist from partial disturbances of nose development, through unilateral hypoplasia of the nose to congenital absence of the nose (arhinia).

The aim of this study is to present own experience of treatment of patients with different types of nose underdevelopment.

Plastic Surgery Out-patient Clinic has under care 13 patients with isolated nose underdevelopment. In this group there were 5 men and 8 women. The patients' age, at the time of first consultation, was from 6 months to 19 years.

The most frequent type of defect in analyzed group was congenital saddle nose (6 persons). Three patients were diagnosed with absence of the quadrilateral cartilage of the nasal septum, two with isolated underdevelopment of the alar cartilage and one with bilateral underdevelopment of the nasal bones. The most advanced disturbance was observed in 6 months old girl, who had unilateral hypoplasia of the nose. Nine patients were surgically treated.

Nose underdevelopment is rare congenital anomaly and is characterized by variable clinical picture. Medical history and precise physical examination are fundamental in proper diagnosis. Disturbances in nose development can lead to serious functional consequences and require individual plan of treatment.