Designing a Trifoliate Flap for Isolated Congenital Alar Rim Defect in Pediatric Patients.

Isolated congenital alar rim defects are extremely rare, and there has been no standard technique for the reconstruction of remarkable aesthetic deformity. Herein, we introduce a trifoliate flap for the correction of isolated congenital alar rim defects in pediatric patients. Fifteen cases undergoing nasal alar sulcus rotation flap surgery were analyzed retrospectively. This rotation flap including 3 triangles was a modified flap based on prior studies. Clinical medical notes and photographs were reviewed. Patients' (or their parents) reported satisfactions with aesthetic outcome were also evaluated during the post-operative follow-up period. In all patients, the isolated congenital alar rim defects were successfully reconstructed. The rotation flap survived and the wound healed primarily. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 22 months (average 11 months). There were no incidents of flap loss, step-off deformities, nasal obstruction, or alar retraction. At follow-up of post-operative 3 months, pale red scars were observed in the operative area in few patients (2/15). However, these scars gradually became invisible at post-operative 6 months. All patients (or their parents) were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome of this operation. This newly designed trifoliate flap can be an alternative method for the reconstruction of isolated congenital alar rim defects in pediatric patients. The scars of this procedure can be unobvious with fine surgical suture.

Contexte: Les anomalies congénitales isolées du pourtour de l'aile du nez sont extrêmement rares et il n'existe aucune technique de référence pour la reconstruction de cette difformité esthétique notable. Nous présentons ici un volet trifolié pour la correction des anomalies congénitales du pourtour de l'aile du nez chez des patients pédiatriques. Méthodes: Quinze cas de patients subissant une chirurgie avec rotation de lambeau de sillon de l'aile du nez ont été analysés rétrospectivement. Ce lambeau de rotation comportant trois triangles était une version modifiée d'un lambeau utilisé dans des études précédentes. Les notes médicales cliniques et les photographies ont été analysées. La satisfaction exprimée par les patients (ou leurs parents) à propos du résultat esthétique a été également évaluée au cours de la période de suivi postopératoire. Résultats: L'anomalie congénitale isolée du pourtour de l'aile du nez a été réparée avec succès chez tous les patients. Le lambeau de rotation a survécu et la plaie a guéri d'emblée: la durée de la période de suivi allait de 6 mois à 22 mois (moyenne: 11 mois). Il n'y a pas eu d'incidents de perte du lambeau, de difformité en marche d'escalier, d'obstruction nasale ou de rétraction de l'aile du nez. Au suivi postopératoire de 3 mois, des cicatrices rouge pâle ont été observées dans la zone opératoire de quelques patients (2/15). Cependant, ces cicatrices sont devenues progressivement invisibles à la visite postopératoire de 6 mois. Tous les patients (ou leurs parents) ont été satisfaits du résultat esthétique de cette opération. Conclusion: Ce lambeau trifolié nouvellement conçu peut être une méthode de substitution pour la reconstruction des anomalies congénitales isolées du pourtour de l'aile du nez chez des patients pédiatriques. Les cicatrices secondaires à cette opération peuvent être non évidentes avec une suture chirurgicale fine.

Effects of a special shaped tip cartilage support structure on alar rim retraction / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effectiveness and significance of special fixing cartilaginous support structure on nasal tip to prevent and correct alar rim retraction.Methods:Special shaped tip extension support structure was composed of two parts of type Ⅲ of septum extension graft (SEG) and two pieces of wedge graft fixed on either side of the cephalic end near the top of support structure. After the alar cartilage vault was fixed to the nasal tip cartilage support structure, the lower lateral cartilage (LLC) cephalic was fixed to both sides of this nasal tip support structure. The LLC received support from the cartilaginous support structure to counter and correct the lower lateral cartilage cephalic retraction. From January 2017 to January 2020, this surgical procedure was used in 34 patients (aged from 20 to 46 years, with mean 32.6 years) with rhinoplasty who had a nasal tip support structure but still had a space between the LLC and the stent intraoperativly. Preoperativly, 4 cases had normal relation of alar columella and alar rim, 18 cases had mild alar rim retraction, and 12 cases had moderate alar rim retraction. The patients were followed up for 6 to 18 months to observe the correction effect and patient satisfaction.Results:Among the 34 patients, 8 patients received alar edge graft, 2 patients received lateral foot support graft, and 2 patients received alar rim graft combined with lateral foot support graft. All patients were followed up for 6-18 months, 30 patients with alar rim retraction were completely corrected, and 4 patients with normal alar and nasal columella relationship did not have alar rim retraction after surgery. No complications such as infection, necrosis, contracture or respiratory dysfunction were found in all patients. 28 cases (82.4%) were very satisfied; 6 cases (17.6%) were satisfied; the satisfactory rate was 100%.Conclusions:The special shaped nasal tip cartilage support structure combined with type Ⅲ SEG and its cephalic wedge grafts could achieve satisfactory clinical results in the prevention and correction of alar rim retraction.

Revision Septorhinoplasty: An Illustrative Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular procedures in facial plastic surgery. It is a technically demanding surgery with a long learning curve. The outcome may be very beneficial to the function of the nasal breathing as well as the patient's social life but harbors many pitfalls and sequelae from minor to devastating. This grants a high demand on the knowledge of the nose's anatomy and the implication of each conducted maneuver or grafting during the surgery both short and long term. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the presented case report, we demonstrate the sequelae of a secondary rhinoplasty case, analyze the outcomes, present the revision surgery in detail, and show the follow-ups. Most negative outcomes of primary rhinoplasty may be led back to the particular techniques applied. Leading causes of revision surgery include loss of tip projection, inverted-V-deformity, axis deviation, dorsal irregularities, internal and external nasal valve collapse, damage to the soft tissue envelope, and many more. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that through such an illustrative case discussion, we may enhance the skills and critical appraisal of young surgeons in decision-making.

Economizing the Septal Cartilage for Grafts During Rhinoplasty, 40 Years' Experience.

BACKGROUND: During rhinoplasty, it is typically necessary to use cartilage to shape and support the final nasal construct to provide both form and function to the nose (Tanna et al. in Plast Reconstr Surg 141(1):137e-151e, 2018; Guyuron in Plast Reconstr Surg 105(6):2257-2259, 2000; Kim et al. in Ann Plast Surg 65(6):519-523, 2010). The septal cartilage is the ideal graft both for its ease of access and quality of cartilage. However, this graft is a limited resource, and economy of its use is important as to negate the need to harvest cartilage from the ear or rib. THE PURPOSE: 1. To share the senior author's 40 years' experience with the economy of septal cartilage. 2. To identify the areas of the septal cartilage most suitable for a particular graft. 3. To discuss the common grafts that are used in rhinoplasty. 4. To identify when other sources of cartilage are needed and where to best use those grafts. 5. To present option for preservation of the leftover septal cartilage. CONCLUSION: Overall consideration should focus on the size, thickness, and curvature of the graft contemplating the structural and functional needs of the rhinoplasty maneuvers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Postsurgical Alar Retraction: Etiology and Treatment.

The cephalic trim technique is a popular maneuver that often leads to tip deformities, most notably postsurgical alar retraction (PSAR). We advocate using the external rhinoplasty approach to correct PSAR by (1) releasing and repositioning the retracted alar margin, (2) strengthening and immobilizing the central tip complex using a septal extension graft, (3) suspending and longitudinally tightening the mobilized lateral crural remnant by adjusting crural length to match the sidewall span, and (4) providing direct skeletal support to the repositioned alar margin using articulated alar rim grafts. Using this structural treatment paradigm, we have corrected severe PSAR in the preponderance of secondary rhinoplasty cases.

Correction of Nasal Pinching.

The pinched nasal tip deformity often results as sequelae of prior nasal surgery. Conventional tip surgery techniques that overemphasize tip narrowing often deform the lateral crura and weaken support for the alar margin. The pinched nasal tip is characterized by the demarcation between the nasal tip and the alar lobule, isolating the tip from the surrounding nasal subunits. Lateral crural strut grafts with or without repositioning offer the surgeon a powerful maneuver that can help correct this functional and aesthetic deformity and restore a natural appearance to the nasal tip.

Twin Alar Rims: A Rare Type of Alar Rim Deformity and Its Correction Using "SAIL" Technique.

The beauty and golden proportions of a face are largely determined by the shape and size of the nose one inherits. When the subunits of the nasal structure are considered, the width and structure of Ala and Alar rims determine to a large extent the beauty of the nose itself. Various classifications exist to evaluate the alar rim deformities that are inherited as well as iatrogenic, but occurrence of twin alar rims as a deformity has rarely been reported. This article reports the deformities of drooping tip, hanging columella, and asymmetry of alar rims along with twin alar rims. All the problems were addressed with an open rhinoplasty approach and combining the alar incision with the sail technique to achieve the correction of twin alar rim.

Alar Rim Deformities.

The alar rim plays an important role in nasal harmony. Alar rim flaws are common following the initial rhinoplasty. Classification of the deformities helps with diagnosis and successful surgical correction. Diagnosis of the deformity requires careful observation of the computerized or life-sized photographs. Techniques for treatment of these deformities can easily be learned with attention to detail.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Alar Rim Deformities / 대한이비인후과학회지

Alar rim deformity is one of the most challenging problems to correct in nasal surgery. It is difficult to correct, recurs easily, and needs delicate handling. The technique to correct a hanging alar includes excision a vestibular skin, direct skin excision, and/or excision of the lateral crus. The technique to correct the minimal-to-mild alar retraction includes scar contracture release, alar rim grafts, V-Y advancement flap and composite grafts. In case of severely retracted alar, several techniques such as lateral crural strut graft, alar spreader graft, inter-cartilaginous graft, and island pedicled advancement flap of the nasal dorsum can help to correct the deformities. Alar rotation flap, septal extension graft, alar base surgery, and derotation graft also have some benefit.

Lateral crural tensioning for refinement of the wide and underprojected nasal tip: rethinking the lateral crural steal.

Refinement of the wide, ptotic, under protected tip is one of the most difficult challenges in cosmetic nasal surgery yet also among the most common. Although excisional techniques can produce reductions in lobular width, long-term contour alterations are unpredictable and subject to stigmatic tip deformity. Preservation of natural tip support is a fundamental requirement of a successful rhinoplasty. The traditional lateral crural steal is a useful technique for tip refinement, but, when combined with a sturdy septal extension graft, the modified lateral crural steal (lateral crural tensioning) becomes a more potent and versatile rhinoplasty technique that can improve tip contour without jeopardizing function or structural stability.

A Novel Approach for Full-Thickness Defect of the Nasal Alar Rim: Primary Closure of the Defect and Reduction of the Contralateral Normal Ala for Symmetry.

In full-thickness defects of the nasal alar rim, to achieve projection and maintain airway patency, cartilage graft is frequently needed. However, cartilage graft presents a challenge in considerations such as appropriate donor site, skeletal shape and size, and healing of the donor area. To avoid these demerits, we tried primary closure of alar rim defects by also making the contralateral normal ala smaller. We treated two patients who had a full-thickness nasal alar defect after tumor excision. Cartilage graft was considered for the reconstruction. However, their alar rims were overly curved and their nostril openings were large. To utilize their nasal shape, we did primary closure of the defect rather than cartilage graft, and then downsized the contralateral nasal ala by means of wedge resection to make the alae symmetric. Both patients were satisfied with their aesthetic results, which showed a smaller nostril and nearly straight alar rims. Moreover, functionally, there was no discomfort during breathing in both patients. We propose our idea as one of the reconstruction options for nasal alar defects. It is a simple and easy-to-perform procedure, in addition to enhancing the nasal contour. This method would be useful for patients with a large nostril and an overly curved alar rim.

A Novel Approach for Full-Thickness Defect of the Nasal Alar Rim: Primary Closure of the Defect and Reduction of the Contralateral Normal Ala for Symmetry

In full-thickness defects of the nasal alar rim, to achieve projection and maintain airway patency, cartilage graft is frequently needed. However, cartilage graft presents a challenge in considerations such as appropriate donor site, skeletal shape and size, and healing of the donor area. To avoid these demerits, we tried primary closure of alar rim defects by also making the contralateral normal ala smaller. We treated two patients who had a full-thickness nasal alar defect after tumor excision. Cartilage graft was considered for the reconstruction. However, their alar rims were overly curved and their nostril openings were large. To utilize their nasal shape, we did primary closure of the defect rather than cartilage graft, and then downsized the contralateral nasal ala by means of wedge resection to make the alae symmetric. Both patients were satisfied with their aesthetic results, which showed a smaller nostril and nearly straight alar rims. Moreover, functionally, there was no discomfort during breathing in both patients. We propose our idea as one of the reconstruction options for nasal alar defects. It is a simple and easy-to-perform procedure, in addition to enhancing the nasal contour. This method would be useful for patients with a large nostril and an overly curved alar rim.

Rhinoplasty: the lateral crura-alar ring.

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty surgeons routinely excise or incise the lateral crura despite nostril rim retraction, bossa, and collapse. Given recent emphasis on preserving the lateral crura, a review of the lateral crura's anatomy is warranted. OBJECTIVES: The authors quantify specific anatomical aspects of the lateral crura in cadavers and clinical patients. METHODS: This was a 2-part investigation, consisting of a prospective clinical measurement study of 40 consecutive rhinoplasty patients (all women) and 20 fresh cadaver dissections (13 males, 1 female). In the clinical phase, the alar cartilages were photographed intraoperatively and alar position (ie, orientation), axis, and width were measured. Cadaver dissections concentrated on parts of the lateral crura (alar cartilages and alar ring) that were inaccessible clinically. RESULTS: Average clinical patient age was 28 years (range, 14-51 years). Average cadaver age was 74 (range, 57-88 years). Clinically, the distance of the lateral crura from the mid-nostril point averaged 5.9 mm, and the cephalic orientation averaged 43.6 degrees. The most frequent configuration of the axis was smooth-straight in the horizontal axis and a cephalic border higher than the caudal border in the vertical axis. Maximal lateral crura width averaged 10.1 mm. In the cadavers, average lateral crural dimensions were 23.4 mm long, 6.4 mm wide at the domal notch, 11.1 mm wide at the so-designated turning point (TP), and 0.5 mm thickness. The accessory cartilage chain was present in all dissections. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral crura-alar ring was present in all dissections as a circular ring continuing around toward the anterior nasal spine but not abutting the pyriform. The lateral crura (1) begins at the domal notch and ends at the accessory cartilages, (2) exhibits a distinct TP from the caudal border, (3) has distinct horizontal and vertical vectors, and (4) should have a caudal border higher than the cephalic border. Alar malposition may be associated with position, orientation, or configuration.

Can we add auricular composite graft to our rhinoplasty armamentarium?

BACKGROUND: The ala of the nose, with its particular texture and characteristics, poses both aesthetically and functionally intriguing challenges and is rather problematic regarding choices for reconstructive methods. Both flaps and grafts have been used to restore natural structure of nasal ala. The present study summarizes a ten-year experience of reconstructive surgery using small composite grafts from non-cartilage bearing tissues, and large composite grafts, containing cartilaginous tissue, with a mean follow-up of 4 years and 8 months. METHODS: Cumulatively 56 patients were reported. Some of them required surgery due to previous cosmetic rhinoplasty. In 47 of the cases, a small graft from the non-cartilage bearing junction of ear lobule to helical rim sufficed. Nine patients had rather large defects for which grafts were harvested from the helical root. Donor sites were primarily closed and grafts were implanted in place in a single, rapid session. RESULTS: All small grafts had excellent take. Of 9 large grafts, 5 had excellent take, three had acceptable, and one, in a male smoker, failed to take. During follow-up, no gross deformity or poor scar was detected in either donor or recipient site. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that using both large and small auricular composite grafts has favorable long term results for reconstruction of alar rim deformities. However, use of small grafts seems more beneficial and applicability of large grafts requires further studies.

MEASUREMENT OF ALAR RIM & NOSTRIL SILL LENGTH IN CLEFT LIP AND PROPOSAL OF OPERATIVE METHODS

Cleft lip and palate is the most common deformity among the facial congenital anomalies. And although many research and studies of operative methods haute been performed, the actual measurement of length of alar flaring have not been reported in cleft lip and palate. For this, authors chose the length of alas rim and nostril sill, which are an objective parameter, to measure the complete and incomplete cleft lip before the remedy and it was proven by a numerical value that compare to the normal part, the length was elongated. Also we found elongation of the cleft side alar rim in which patients had been operated by triangular flap method. We propose two surgical operative methods of the correction of lengthened alar rim; 1 partial resection of the elongated alar rim. 2. conversion of ala into nostril floor (Millard II operation) We conclude that this study is more accurate correction of the nasal deformity by measuring and understanding the length of alar rim in cleft lip and palate patients.