Application of Diced Autologous Rib Cartilage for Paranasal Augmentation in Cleft Nose.

[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect of diced cartilage on correcting nasal alar base depression in Asian cleft rhinoplasty.

[METHODS] A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients with nasal deformity, who underwent the second cleft rhinoplasty between January 2018 and January 2020. Autologous costal cartilage was harvested in all the patients to reconstruct the contour of the nose, while the remaining cartilage from the surgery was cut into 1.0×1.0 mm pieces and filled into the nasal alar base. The preoperative and postoperative effects of visual images were compared and analyzed using Adobe Photoshop CS6 software. The patients were followed up for 8-18 months (mean 12 months) to investigate the satisfaction and complication rate.

[RESULTS] The nasal alar base depression was corrected, and the profile of malformed noses was significantly improved in 25 patients after the surgery. The postoperative effect was satisfactory, and no obvious graft shift or other complications were observed in the follow-up.

[CONCLUSIONS] The application of diced cartilage to correct nasal alar base depression after cleft lip surgery is a feasible method. Its advantages include mainly the crafty use of the remaining cartilage and the presentation of a more natural appearance than mass cartilage.

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