Ultrasonographic monitoring of implant thickness after augmentation rhinoplasty with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
BACKGROUND
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), or Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ), is widely used in augmentation rhinoplasty, and the histological changes that it undergoes in the human body have been studied for decades. However, changes in the thickness of ePTFE after its use in augmentation rhinoplasty with a noninvasive object method are not well understood.


METHODS
We report the results of 19 patients (10 male and 9 female patients) who had undergone an uncomplicated augmentation rhinoplasty with Gore-Tex. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate changes in the thickness of Gore-Tex implants and to detect inflammatory reactions around the implants 9-67 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Gore-Tex implants were clearly distinguishable from the surrounding tissue with ultrasonography. The postoperative thickness of the implant was decreased by 29%. There was no significant correlation between the degree of change in implant thickness and the length of time after surgery. However, the amount of thickness reduction was associated with the implant's initial thickness at the time of the surgery (R = 0.448; p = 0.001). In addition, four patients (21%) showed fibrosis or granuloma formation around the implant that was detectable via ultrasonography.


CONCLUSIONS
Gore-Tex implants lost thickness after nasal dorsal augmentation in proportion to their initial thickness, and ultrasonography was useful for evaluating changes in Gore-Tex thickness.
Jung
Yong Gi
YG
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hyo Yeol
HY
Dhong
Hun-Jong
HJ
Park
Ki Nam
KN
Lee
Hyun Jong
HJ
Lim
Yoo Jung
YJ
Min
Jin-Young
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene