title: Lower Lateral Cartilages: An Anatomic and Morphological Study in Noses of Black Southern Africans.
abstract: The anatomy of the nose of different ethnic groups has been widely researched in order to facilitate a better understanding of the individual nose as a foundation for improving surgical outcomes. The only anatomical research of the lower lateral cartilages (LLCs) available to the surgeon working with an African patient is to extrapolate data from studies already published on African Americans.
  
  
  
  The aim of this descriptive cadaveric study was to assess the normal anatomy of the LLCs in noses of Black South Africans and compare this to data from studies on noses from Caucasian, Asian, Korean, and African-American populations.
  
  
  
  Ninety lower lateral cartilages of 45 cadavers of Black South Africans who did not have previous surgery or trauma to the nose were dissected. The morphological shapes and 12 standard anatomical measurements were recorded. The results were analyzed and compared to data in the literature from studies on lower lateral cartilages of Caucasian, Asian, Korean, and African-American populations.
  
  
  
  A statistically significant difference was found in terms of overall cartilage dimensions, distance from nasal rim, and morphological shapes, compared to all previously studied groups, including the African-American population. There were significant differences in cartilage dimensions between males and females. This translates to clinically significant data that is useful during reconstructive and aesthetic nasal surgery on patients with a Southern African background.
  
  
  
  This study sets norms for alar cartilages in Black Southern Africans.
authors.affiliation: Dr McIntosh was a Registrar, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa and is currently is a Specialist ENT Surgeon, Netcare Greenacres Hospital, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
authors.forename: Cameron N D
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.affiliation: Dr van Wyk is a Specialist ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: F Carl
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: van Wyk
authors.affiliation: Prof Joubert is an Associate Professor and Head of Department, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: Prof Seedat is an Associate Professor and Head of Department, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Riaz Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Seedat
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D044383:Black People; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D044466:Asian People; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D044465:White People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055171:Nasal Cartilages / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa