Mature Cleft Rhinoplasty: Morphologic Outcomes of Septal Cartilage Grafting

ObjectiveTo evaluate morphologic outcomes following mature cleft rhinoplasty using exclusive septum cartilage grafting.DesignRetrospective, observational study.SettingSingle institution, 8-year retrospective review.Patients/ParticipantsA total of 31 facially mature patients with non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip were included in this study.InterventionsPatients underwent mature cleft rhinoplasty using septum cartilage as the exclusive graft source.Main Outcome MeasuresPreoperative and postoperative photographs (at least 1 year after surgery) were analyzed using 8 distinct anthropometric parameters to assess for statistical significance in the changes to nasal morphology. Paired-samples t-tests were performed, and statistical significance was defined as P < .05.ResultsThe mean changes following mature cleft rhinoplasty were: alar cant 1.96 to 0.95 (P < .001), alar height angle 1.90 to 1.21 (P = .006), nasal tip deviation 2.90 to 1.99 (P < .001), vertical alar height ratio 0.95 to 0.95 (P = .4), nasofacial angle 28.52 to 31.48 (P = .003), nasolabial angle 83.15 to 87.96 (P = .01), columellar angle 9.09 to 3.30 (P < .0001), and nostril height ratio 0.80 to 0.88 (P < .001).ConclusionsThe nasal septum can be considered as a reliable initial choice for cartilage grafts during mature cleft rhinoplasty.