Background
Classic nasal hump reduction based on partial resection of the cartilage and bones in the nose may lead to dorsum deformities such as an inverted-V deformity, irregularities, and an open roof. Techniques that preserve the nasal dorsum (namely the push-down and let-down) avoid these problems, but may not always be indicated for very large, broad, or deviated noses, whereas cartilaginous push-down is also indicated for large and deviated humps. Because only the cartilaginous portion of the hump is preserved in the cartilaginous push-down, a rough area may remain where the bony portion is resected.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to develop a variation of the cartilaginous push-down technique which includes a bony cap to preserve the smoothness of the keystone area during nasal hump treatment.
Methods
Forty-eight consecutive patients with indication for nasal hump treatment who underwent cartilaginous push-down procedures with bony cap preservation between August 2018 and October 2019 were studied.
Results
We observed related complications in 2 patients (4.2%); in 1 patient (2.1%) the bony cap was lost during the rasping of the nasal bones and the surgery was altered to utilize only the cartilaginous push-down. Another patient (2.1%) experienced a mild hump recurrence during the early weeks following the procedure. All of the remaining patients had their nasal humps treated adequately.
Conclusions
The nasal hump was adequately corrected in most of the study patients (95.8%). Preserving the bony cap while performing the cartilaginous push-down may prevent complications related to the osseous resection of the keystone area.
Level of Evidence: 4
Classically, nasal hump reduction is based on the partial resection of the cartilages and bones of the nose, as it was described by Joseph almost a century ago. The cartilaginous portion of the hump consists of a single unity formed by the two upper lateral cartilages and the septal cartilage. During hump reduction in the classic rhinoplasty, this structure is slashed in three pieces, which is the main cause of irregularities, shadows, and pinchings over the long-term results. Late follow-ups of the classical hump removal often show an inverted V-shaped shadow on the dorsum secondary to the destruction of the osseous-cartilaginous transition. The angle and relation between the septal and upper lateral cartilages are reduced, which may compromise the functional aspect. The destruction of the unique anatomy of the cartilaginous hump is one of the main causes of this functional and aesthetic sequela. Here, we present a technique that preserves the cartilaginous framework of the nasal hump by lowering it through the resection of a strip of septum, avoiding the problems described above.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.