Nasal Reconstruction Using Rib Grafting with Cold Light Source Technology

Although costal cartilage is a reliable source of cartilage for rhinoplasty and provides a strong scaffold for total nasal reconstruction, traditional collection techniques may cause complications at the donor site. In this paper, we report a simple and safe technique for harvesting full-length costal cartilage and its application in total nasal reconstruction.

From May 2018 to December 2020, 24 patients with nasal defects, including 16 females and eight males, received nasal reconstruction in the Rhinoplasty and Repair Center of the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Clinical outcomes were evaluated during the postoperative stay at the hospital and at the 6-30-month follow-up.

The operative time of cartilage harvesting ranged from 30 to 60 min. The patients could walk freely one day after surgery. The average ± standard deviation of Visual Analog Scale scores for pain at the harvested site were 2.583 ± 0.717 (at rest) and 4.750 ± 0.794 (during coughing) 6 h after surgery. We observed no complications (e.g., pleural perforation, pneumothorax, or massive bleeding) due to rib grafts in any patients. During the 6-30 months of follow-up, all patients had complete healing of both donor and recipient sites. The surgical results were rated as satisfactory or good by the patients and surgeons.

This new cold light source-assisted costal cartilage harvest technique allows full-length costal cartilage to be obtained for total nasal reconstruction, with minimal donor site complications, short operation time, fast postoperative recovery, and high satisfaction among patients and surgeons.

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