title: [Spreader grafts in septorhinoplasty].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spreader grafts are strut-shaped cartilage grafts, which are placed bilaterally between anterior septal edge and upper lateral cartilages. Spreader grafts are harvested from autologeous cartilage (septum, auricle, rib). A typical dimension is 24×8×2 mm, however the size can vary considerably. Depending on the pathology to be corrected, spreader grafts can have the following effects: straightening of the anterior edge of the septum (often called septal roof), straightening of the cartilageneous dorsum, prevention of collapse of the middle vault, prevention of stenosis of the inner nasal valve, straightening of the caudal septum, correction of asymmetries in the cartilageneous dorsum, connection between septum and columella.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of the indications for SG in 100 consecutive septorhinoplasties at the Dept. of Otolaryngology, University of Tübingen, in the year 2009. Review of anatomical background, indication and operation technique of SG, illustrated by clinical examples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SG were used in 70 of 100 consecutive septorhinoplasties in 2009. The indications comprised nasal humps, nasal overprojection, nasal deviations, saddle noses, steps and irregularities in the dorsum, and extracorporal septoplasties. 47 times the SG were made of septal cartilage, 6 times from rib cartilage and 17 times from conchal cartilage. SG play an important role in the achievement of satisfactory long-term results in the correction of many nasal deformities, among those the deviated nose and the hump nose, which are the most commonly corrected conditions in rhinoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Tübingen. w.wagner@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Schraven
mesh_terms: D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods