Anatomical Study of the Lateral Crural Strut Graft in Rhinoplasty and Its Clinical Application.
BACKGROUND
Lateral crural strut graft has been used in rhinoplasty to correct deformities such as bulbous nasal tip, lateral crus malposition, alar retraction, collapsed external valve, lateral crus concavity, and alar deformity after domal suture. Despite its widespread use, the lateral crural strut graft has not been the subject of studies that show its benefits objectively and statistically.


OBJECTIVE
To assess nasal anatomical variations in cadavers that underwent rhinoplasty using the lateral crural strut graft, considering the clinical applications of this graft.


METHODS
The study was conducted with 16 human cadavers that underwent rhinoplasty with lateral crural strut graft. The variables were basilar nasal width, interalar width, columella-nasal tip height, nostril's width, and length and width of the graft. Measurements were taken with a digital caliper before and after rhinoplasty, and nostril cross-sectional area was measured with a computer program. All measurements were submitted to statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Most of the cadavers were young, male, and black. Variables values were increased, but only basilar nasal width, columella-nasal tip height, and nostril cross-sectional area showed statistically significant differences (P < .05), leading to changes in the alar base, the nasal tip projection and the external nasal valve.


CONCLUSIONS
Lateral crural strut graft improves external nasal valve and increases nasal tip projection and basilar nasal width.
Dr Silva Filho is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Dr Pochat is a Professor of Plastic Surgery, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Reginaldo de Oliveira
Rde O
Silva Filho
Dr Silva Filho is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Dr Pochat is a Professor of Plastic Surgery, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Victor Diniz de
VD
Pochat
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult