Effect of Septal Extension Graft on Creating and Maintaining Tip Rotation in Tongue-in-Groove Technique: A Case Control Study.

[OBJECTIVE] The outcome of rhinoplasty was evaluated in patients undergoing tongue-in-groove technique (TIG) with and without septal extension grafts (SEG) placement for stabilization of nasal tip rotation.

[SUBJECTS AND METHODS] Three hundred and sixty-seven patients who underwent rhinoplasty using TIG from 2016 to 2020 were included in this study. SEG was used if the caudal segment of the septum was not suitable for TIG. All patients were photographed pre- and postoperatively. Columellar Facial angle (CFA) and Nasolabial angle (NLA) were measured preoperatively at three intervals including up to six months after the operation (early or T1), up to one year after T1 (midterm or T2), and up to two years after T2 (late or T3).

[RESULTS] Two hundred and nine patients (56.94%) underwent TIG and the rest of them (43.06%) received SEG plus TIG (SEG+TIG). The TIG group had a mean CFA of 95.9±7.56 degrees preoperatively, 106.5±6.77 degrees at T1, 105.4±6.48 degrees at T2, and 104.8 ±7.52 at T3. The SEG+TIG had a mean CFA of 98.9±7.65 degrees preoperatively, 108.8±6.58 degrees at T1, 107.7±6.86 degrees at T2, and 106.2 ±15.6 at T3. Comparison of T1, T2, and T3 showed that the CFA changes were less than 1%, indicating a nonsignificant difference. The same results were obtained for NLA as well.

[CONCLUSION] Adding of SEG to TIG may be an effective technique to create and maintain a stable rotation comparing to TIG independently.

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