Rib/costal Cartilage Combination Graft in Rhinoplasty

ABSTRACT

Augmenatation rhinoplasty may be effectively accomplished with alloplastic materials. However, certain circumstances mandate the use of autologous grafts(e.g., dorsal augmentation that exceeds 8 mm and patient intolerance of alloplastic implants). Rib or costal cartilage graft have gained wide-spread use in rhinoplasty. Rib cartilages are pliable and soft but they easily undergo warpage, whereas solid bone graft frequently lead to an unnatural hardness of the nasal tip and dorsal resorption. The rib/costal cartilage combination graft(=autogenous chondro-osseous rib grafting) are excellent alternatives. In this study 12 patients received 14 rib grafts harvested in the 7th or 8th rib. Materials were used as cantilevered dorsal onlay grafts, columellar struts, and tip grafts. During 8 months of follow up periods, most patients have firm and stabilized nasal dorsum with soft and mobilized tip without prominent complications such as infection, protrusion, mobilization, etc. In conclusion, this autogenous chondro-osseous rib grafting technique can be an effective and safe method in the primary or secondary rhinoplasty.