Introduction: Rhinoplasty for caudal septal cartilage defects is a challenge due to the difficulty of fixation of the grafts.
Objectives: This study presents an approach for correcting defects in caudal septal cartilage with the costal cartilaginous framework using a mortise-tenon technique.
Methods: From May 2019 through May 2022, a retrospective analysis of patients with caudal septal cartilage defects underwent rhinoplasty using a mortise-tenon cartilaginous framework by a senior surgeon was performed. The surgical outcomes were evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively.
Results: This study involved 17 patients, ranging in age from 27 to 58 years. There were 22.4 months of follow-up on average. There was no long-term or short-term complication observed. The aesthetic outcome of all cases was satisfactory. The mean score for the patients of the perceptions of improvement in their noses was 8.11.
Conclusion: Correction of caudal septal cartilage defects with this costal cartilaginous framework using the mortise-tenon technique is feasible and effective.
Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Keywords: Autologous costal cartilage; Rhinoplasty; Septal cartilage defect.
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