A Modified Dorsal Split Preservation Technique for Nasal Humps with Minor Bony Component: A Preliminary Report

In scenarios of a dorsal hump with minor bony cap, ideal esthetic dorsal lines can be preserved and refined by component separation of the upper lateral cartilages from the septal T, resection of a septal strip and ethmoid bone wedge, adjustment of width and symmetry and final re-suture of the cartilaginous dorsum after pushdown, improving width and symmetry. The associated bony cap is managed by osteoplasty only with or without narrowing osteotomies, and septal deviations can be concomitantly corrected.

A novel technique of modified dorsal cartilaginous pushdown after component separation is described in detail. This method illustrates the importance of preserving the integrity of the septal T anatomy and the elastic keystone junction.

A preliminary series of 41 consecutive patients with follow-up up to 1 year, with a mean of 6 months, is reviewed.

All patients presented favorable outcomes with a natural looking dorsum. A learning curve led to progressive improvements by suture fixation of the septal T, finesse adjustment of dorsal width and symmetry, fine-tuning of deviation and gradual extension of the technique to include cases that required osteotomies without transverse element and those with any degree of septal manipulation.

Disrupting the keystone area is fraught with potential complications which often lead to secondary revision. A modified dorsal preservation technique with pushdown limited to the septal T component of the cartilaginous dorsum combines the popular component separation concept with the preservation of the delicate anatomy of the mid-vault.

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