title: Ultrasonographic monitoring of new expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implant thickness after augmentation rhinoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) is currently one of the most popular implant materials for rhinoplasty. Surgiform (Surgiform Technology, Ltd., Lugoff, SC) is a recently introduced ePTFE material with physical characteristics that are slightly different  from Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). Changes in Surgiform thickness after rhinoplasty are not well documented.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study enrolled 16 patients (12 male and 4 female patients) who underwent primary augmentation rhinoplasty with  Surgiform. High-resolution ultrasonography was used to measure implant thickness after a mean follow-up period of 14.7 months (range, 8-21 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgiform implants were easily and clearly demarcated from surrounding tissue. The mean thickness of inserted  implants was 2.37 ± 0.80 mm at the rhinion and 3.12 ± 1.26 mm at the supratip. The follow-up thickness was 2.35 ± 0.77 mm at the rhinion and 3.09 ± 1.23 mm at the supratip. Implant thickness did not decrease significantly at the rhinion (p = 0.112) or the supratip  (p = 0.165).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonographic monitoring indicated that Surgiform e-PTFE does not shrink significantly over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Changwon-Si, Seoul, Korea. ent.jyg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yong Gi
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kyoung Hwi
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hun-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dhong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009666:Nose / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene