Introducing Saddle-Shaped Radix Graft, with a Second Look into the Classic

An enduringly stable tip graft is the key to achieve successful rhinoplasty cases. However, the intrinsic nature of rib graft warping renders major unpredictability for the long-term outcome. The objective of this study was to detail and validate the use of a radix graft design that is characterized by the dual curved surfaces and beveled margin, which consequently renders a shape similar to a saddle.

Twenty-three female patients, ranging in age from 22 to 31 years, completed the study. In all cases, the saddle-shaped radix graft was applied as the essential element for enhancing radix region profile. The complications that arose were collected retrospectively. Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric evaluations of patients were performed. Anthropometric points were analyzed in a blinded fashion. Outcome variables were tip projection, nasal length, radix height, and the radius of curvature.

Postoperative analysis suggested significant improvement on the aesthetics of the radix region over time, evidenced by the significant increase of radix height (4.33 ± 1.21 mm versus 7.08 ± 1.00 mm), and the reduction of radius of curvature at nasofrontal break over the long term (22.63 ± 2.24 mm versus 13.94 ± 0.98 mm). Other postoperative evaluations, including radix height, tip projection, and nasal length, had significant improvement.

The saddle-shaped radix graft effectively augments the radix area and creates an aesthetically pleasant nasofrontal break without causing the elevated radix deformity. It has the merits of anatomical compliance and flexibility when it comes to concomitantly improving the glabella-radix profile for those East Asians with extremely low radix.