Septorhinoplasty of the traumatically deformed nose

The author has reviewed the 69 patients upon whom he has performed septorhinoplasty in treatment of posttraumatic deformities. These have been followed over a 12-year period; however, only the 59 followed over one year have been studied. In analyzing the deformities, it was noted that three characteristics occur alone or in combination: excessive width, depression, and twisting. The wide nose was best treated by removal of medial tissue, full mobilization of the nasal bones, and postoperative compression exercises. The depressed nose was built forward by onlay grafts, the first choice being septal cartilage. Finally, the twisted nose was treated by freeing the nasal components, straightening the bone and cartilage, and replacing them in their anatomical positions. Not infrequently all three problems were treated in one operative session.