title: Crosshatching incision technique in septoplasty: Experimental outcomes under actual surgical settings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous experiments, the crosshatching incision has been shown to be an effective method for the correction of cartilaginous deviations. Although the settings of the experiments were different from that of septoplasty, the crosshatching incision has been considered a useful method for septoplasty. Therefore, we attempted to determine the efficacy of the crosshatching incision technique under actual septoplasty surgical settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Commercial pig ear cartilages were used for the following experiments: firstly, the crosshatching incision was performed with the cartilage in a partially fixed state (in order to approximate caudal and dorsal fixation of septal cartilage); secondly, for the purpose of approximating L-strut preservation in septoplasty, the crosshatching incision was performed while excluding a marginal area of 1cm on any two contiguous borders. After the experiments, the change of curvature was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under fixation of two contiguous borders, the curvature of the cartilage did not straighten after using the crosshatching incision. Incisions preserving the L-strut were not effective either. Furthermore, unpredicted deviation and splitting of the cartilage developed after the crosshatching incision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under actual surgical settings, the crosshatching incision was ineffective for the correction of septal deviation. Therefore, usefulness of the crosshatching incision needs to be re-evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: profsookim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jung Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine
keywords: Animal experimentation; Cartilage; Nasal septum; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Surgery