Septal Reposition during Intermediate Cleft Rhinoplasty: A Second Chance for Correcting Caudal Septal Deviation.

[BACKGROUND] The authors investigated postoperative nasal morphologic changes in patients undergoing secondary correction of cleft-lip nose with septal repositioning and alar cartilage suspension during preschool age.

[METHODS] The authors performed a retrospective review of 77 patients who underwent secondary correction of cleft-lip nose. The patients were 5 to 6 years of age and underwent intermediate rhinoplasty by alar cartilage suspension, with or without septal repositioning. They were divided into 2 groups based on time, encompassing septal repositioning (September of 2015 through November of 2017) and control (November of 2009 through August of 2015) groups. The authors performed a photogrammetric comparison by assessing the postoperative nasal morphologic changes using linear and angular measures. The cleft-to-noncleft-side ratio of each parameter was measured for the nostril width and height, nostril area, and caudal septal deviation angle.

[RESULTS] Among the 77 patients, 43 were selected as the septal repositioning group and 34 as the control group. Evaluation timing was 5.32 ± 0.45 years of age for the preoperative period (T0), 6.57 ± 0.5 years of age for short-term follow-up (T1), and 9.28 ± 0.65 years of age for long-term follow-up (T2). The septal repositioning group showed significantly improved nostril width ratio and caudal septal deviation angle in the T1 and T2 periods. Septal repositioning significantly decreased the nostril area ratio in the T1 and T2 periods due to decreased cleft-side and increased noncleft-side nostril area.

[CONCLUSION] The secondary correction of cleft-lip nose with septal repositioning during preschool age offers a second chance to correct nasal appearance by balancing the nostril symmetry and correcting the caudal septal deviation.

[CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE] Therapeutic, III.