Purpose: In primary rhinoplasty, use of harvested septal cartilage often precludes the need for rib graft. Nonetheless, there are a number of indications for the use of rib graft in primary rhinoplasty. The purpose of this study was to identify the indications and techniques for rib graft use in primary rhinoplasty.
Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty by a single surgeon over a 5-year period. From these patients, those who required the use of fresh frozen allograft rib cartilage were identified. Medical record review was performed to identify demographics, ethnicity, and history of nasal trauma. Photographic analysis was also performed.
Results: Thirty (4.7%) of 638 consecutive primary rhinoplasties required rib graft. Of these, 7 patients (23.3%) demonstrated a history of nasal trauma. Further, a high proportion of primary rhinoplasty patients requiring rib graft were from Asian (n=7, 23.3%), Middle Eastern (n=4, 13.3%), Hispanic (n=7, 23.3%), and African American (n=9, 30%) backgrounds. Caucasian patients were in the minority (n=2, 6.7%). All primary rhinoplasties utilizing rib graft implemented a septal extension graft.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that patients requiring a rib graft in primary rhinoplasty invariably receive a septal extension graft. Further, certain ethnicity associated anatomical characteristics correlated with the need for a rib graft for tip shaping. Ultimately, the use of a septal extension graft in primary rhinoplasty allows for precise and robust projection, rotation, and tip shaping in noses with thick skin, weak cartilaginous framework, and history of nasal trauma.
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