The role of genioplasty in the management of craniofacial deformities

The function of a genioplasty is to produce an aesthetically pleasing chin contour and improve facial proportions. The aim of this study was to review the role of osseous genioplasty in the management of patients with craniofacial deformities. 52 patients (24 males and 28 females) treated at the Australian Craniofacial Unit in Adelaide, Australia over a 25-year period; who required a genioplasty as part of their craniofacial management were reviewed. Patients ranged from 17-44 years (median: 26 years) and the age at which the patients underwent genioplasty was between 9 and 36 years (median: 17 years). Pre and 6 months post op cephalograms were compared, showing a mean chin advancement of 7mm and a mean osseous resorption of 20%. One patient was under-corrected and another had post-operative asymmetry, both requiring repeat genioplasty. No long-term nerve dysfunction was noted. The osseous genioplasty is an effective procedure for correcting the chin deformity often seen in patients with craniofacial abnormalities. It is an easy technique to master and is associated with a low degree of morbidity.

Early intervention following an unusual late complication of cantilever nasal costochondral grafts

The concept of the cantilever bone graft, popularised by Millard (1966), and its subsequent modification by Chait et al. (1980), led to the idea of the costochondral cantilever graft for nasal dorsum augmentation. Over 150 costochondral nasal grafts have been performed at the Australian Craniofacial Unit (ACFU) over the last 25 years, and the aim of this study was to review a cohort of fractured costochondral graft in patients treated at the ACFU. The notes of patients with nasal costochondral grafts were reviewed, those with a fractured graft forming the basis of this study. Patients with Binder Syndrome accounted for nearly 30% of the cohort. Other diagnoses included Opitz syndrome, frontonasal dysplasia and other craniofacial abnormalities. 3 patients were identified with late fractured costochondral grafts. The prominent position of the nose makes it easily susceptible to trauma, and very often, low energy impact can produce fractures of the nasal bones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported series of fractures of costochondral nasal grafts and their subsequent management. We would advocate early surgical management of the fractured grafts when conservative treatment has failed. In our present series, all 3 patients still maintained a satisfactory cosmetic and functional result after a mean of 8.5 years following the reparative surgery.