Dorsal Preservation Surgery: A Novel Modification for Dorsal Shaping and Hump Reduction

A new technique for dorsal preservation rhinoplasty that minimizes recurrent hump deformity is introduced.

The authors sought to present a novel dorsal roof flap (DRF) technique for modifying the nasal hump and dorsum while reducing morbidity.

Twenty-two primary and 3 secondary rhinoplasty patients had 1 of 2 types of nasal DRF depending on hump composition. A triangular roof flap was created utilizing 2 incisions from W-point to lateral Keystone junction in cartilaginous humps (cartilaginous DRF) and to the nasion in osseocartilaginous humps (osseocartilaginous DRF). Then, septal strip excisions were conducted to lower the profile followed by nasal base narrowing. The DRF was then lowered to the desired profile line, any excess lateral wall height trimmed, and the DRF sutured to the upper lateral cartilages. Preoperative and postoperative nasolabial and nasoglabellar angles were measured on the photos.

Mean follow-up was 10.3 (standard deviation, 4.41) months (range, 6-20 months). A total 22 humps were V-shape and 3 were S-shape. The composition of the hump was cartilaginous in 5 cases, bone in 7 cases, and combined in 13 cases. A cartilaginous DRF was utilized for the 5 cases with a cartilaginous hump and osseocartilaginous DRF was employed in the other 20 cases. There were no complications observed in the follow-up period and thus no revisions.

The DRF technique allows preservation of the nasal dorsum and elimination of the dorsal hump while minimizing hump recurrence.