An Anatomic Analysis of the Bony Vault: From the Perspective of Osteotomy in Rhinoplasty

Abstract

Background: Osteotomy is one of the most traumatic but critical procedures in rhinoplasty. A detailed preoperative analysis of the bony vault is essential to performing a successful osteotomy.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze bone thickness along the osteotomy path in primary rhinoplasty patients.

Methods: Preoperative 3-dimensional facial bone computed tomography images of 250 patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty were analyzed, and their bony vaults categorized based on symmetry. The bone thickness was measured at 3 points along the lateral and at 2 points along the medial and intermediate osteotomy paths.

Results: Of the 250 patients analyzed, 88 (35.2%) had asymmetric and 162 (64.8%) had symmetric bony vaults. The mean thickness of the bony vault was thickest at the middle level of the lateral osteotomy path, and the bony vault was thicker in male patients at all points of medial and lateral osteotomies. Furthermore, in the asymmetric bony vault, the deviated side was thicker than the contralateral side along all osteotomy paths. In particular, the deviated side was thicker, and the contralateral side was thinner, in the asymmetric bony vault than in the symmetric bony vault at the middle level of the lateral osteotomy path.

Conclusions: The thickness of the bony vault differs according to osteotomy path and gender. The lateral osteotomy, especially at the midpoint of the deviated side in male patients, is crucial in achieving a more controlled fracture.