Cartilage Z plasty on lateral crus for treatment of alar cartilage malposition.
BACKGROUND
Alar cartilage malposition is an anatomical variation. Axis of the lateral crus lies cephalically and can be parallel to the cephalic septum. The characterised findings of the malposition are broad and bulbous nasal tip, abnormal lateral crural axes, long alar creases that extend to the nostril rims, alar wall hollows, frequent nostril deformities and associated external valvular incompetence. This article presents a new technique for the repositioning of the lateral crus in this article.


METHODS
Open rhinoplasty was conducted. A cartilage Z plasty was performed on the lateral crus of the alar cartilage to treat for malposition. The 14 women and 8 men included in the study had an average age of 27 years (range, 18-46 years). The average follow-up period was 12 months (range, 4-20 months).


RESULTS
Alar cartilage malposition was successfully corrected in patients with aesthetic and functional improvements.


CONCLUSIONS
Cartilage Z plasty can effectively correct alar cartilage malposition. Advantages of this technique can be listed as follows: it does not require extra graft material and protects the lateral crural complex; it does not disrupt movements of the alar muscles and can also serve to adjust projection of the nasal tip.
Oktem
Fatih
F
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. f_oktem@yahoo.com
Tellioğlu
Ali Teoman
AT
Menevşe
Gülsüm Tetik
GT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055171:Nasal Cartilages / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult