Temporalis fascia grafts in open secondary rhinoplasty

Parchment thin skin is a common problem associated with secondary rhinoplasty. When such skin is present, the underlying osseocartilaginous skeleton often becomes visible. Although many techniques have been used to treat the condition, we have found that an onlay graft of temporalis fascia is a most satisfactory method to cover the underlying osseocartilaginous framework or cartilage grafts. Temporalis fascia grafts have been advocated for this purpose in closed rhinoplasty; however, precise placement of the graft is difficult because the graft rolls. On the other hand, when used in open rhinoplasty, the graft may be placed accurately and secured under direct vision. This paper presents our experience with temporalis fascia grafts in open secondary rhinoplasties. Six female patients ages 31 to 57 underwent open secondary rhinoplasty. Five patients also had autologous cartilage grafts. Our average follow-up was 24 months; the minimum was 1 year, and the longest 7 years. All patients had excellent dorsal contours and osseocartilaginous irregularities were not observed. One patient developed a culture-proven nasal infection that responded successfully to antibiotics without removal of the fascia or cartilage graft, a result unlikely to occur when alloplastic materials are used. Biopsy of the temporalis fascia and cartilage grafts was obtained in one patient 12 months after placement. Microscopic examination confirms the long term viability of both grafted tissues, inasmuch as the temporalis fascia was vascularized and normal chondrocytes were present in the cartilage grafts. In summary, we have found that temporalis fascia grafts are a very satisfactory method for managing thin skin in open secondary rhinoplasty.