To describe a technique of extracorporeal septal reconstruction to correct the markedly deviated nasal septum. Design: Retrospective medical chart review of 2119 patients undergoing extracorporeal septoplasty from January 1, 1981, through July 31, 2004, by the author in a tertiary care facial plastic surgery center. The main outcomes measured included surgical complications, revision rate, and the surgeon's subjective determination of functional and aesthetic outcomes. Results: Of the 2119 patients, 2 cohorts were available for review. From January 1, 1981, to July 31, 1987, the author performed the operation on 459 patients. Fiftyseven complications (12%) occurred, with irregular contour of the dorsum or saddling noted in 38 (8%). Twenty patients (4%) elected to have revision septoplasty. From January 1, 1996, to December 31, 1996, the author supervised residents performing extracorporeal septoplasty in 108 patients. Fourteen postoperative complications (13%) occurred, with dorsal irregularity noted in 12 (11%). Eight patients (7%) elected to have revision septoplasty. Conclusions: Extracorporeal septal reconstruction is an important surgical option for the correction of the markedly deviated nasal septum. Fixation of the straightened and replanted septum at the nasal spine and dorsal septum border with the upper lateral cartilages is essential. Spreader grafts for stabilization of the internal nasal valve and dorsal onlay grafts to prevent dorsal irregularity are strongly encouraged.

Even today, the difficult septum presents a surgical problem. A severe septum deformity is caused mostly by an accident or is seen in patients with malformations such as cleft lip and palate deformity. It is characterized by a massive malformation in all levels with consecutive blocking of one or both airways. Such marked septal deformities cannot be corrected properly by standard septoplasty techniques. Therefore, in such cases we suggest an extracorporeal septoplasty, where we take out the whole septum and reconstruct a new septal plate by different techniques followed by replantation and reconstruction of the cartilaginous dorsum. From January 1, 1981 to December 31, 2005, we operated on 2301 patients and improved this method constantly, especially the safe septal fixation and rebuilding of the cartilaginous dorsum. Follow-ups showed that even in severe deformities a revision rate of only 5% respectively 7% was found. Therefore, we conclude that the extracorporeal septoplasty with its refinements and the way we are doing it today can also be recommended to less experienced rhinosurgeons.

One of the most difficult aspects in rhinoplasty is resolving and preventing functional compromise of the nasal valve area reliably. The nasal valves are crucial for the individual breathing competence of the nose. Structural and functional elements contribute to this complex system: the nasolabial angle, the configuration and stability of the alae, the function of the internal nasal valve, the anterior septum symmetrically separating the bilateral airways and giving structural and functional support to the alar cartilage complex and to their junction with the upper lateral cartilages, the scroll area. Subsequently, the open angle between septum and sidewalls is important for sufficient airflow as well as the position and function of the head of the turbinates. The clinical examination of these elements is described. Surgical techniques are more or less well known and demonstrated with patient examples and drawings: anterior septoplasty, reconstruction of tip and dorsum support by septal extension grafts and septal replacement, tip suspension and lateral crural sliding technique, spreader grafts and suture techniques, splay grafts, alar batten grafts, lateral crural extension grafts, and lateral alar suspension. The numerous literature is reviewed.

Rhinomanometry can still be considered as the standard technique for the objective assessment of the ventilatory function of the nose. Reliable technical requirements are given by fast digital sensors and modern information technology. However, the xyimaging of the pressure-flow relation typically shows loops as a sign of hysteresis, with the need for resolution of the breath in four phases. The three pillars of 4-phase rhinomanometry (4PR) are the replacement of estimations by measurements, the introduction of parameters related to the subjective sensing of obstruction, and the graphical information regarding the disturbed function of the nasal valve. In a meta-analysis of 36,563 clinical measurements, we analyze the errors of the “classic” parameters (flow in 150 Pa) and reject the further use of these parameters as obsolete, because they correspond to an inaccurate estimation rather than proper measurement. In a pre-study of 1580 measurements, the logarithmic effective resistance (Reff) was found to have the highest correlation with values obtained from a visual analog scale. Next, we classify the inspiratory effective resistance in 20,069 measurements without treatment and 16,494 measurements after decongestion with xylometazoline 0.1 % spray in 20 % percentiles. The gradation of obstruction delivers not only “normal” values but also indications for the severity of the obstruction in adult Caucasian noses. Adoption of the distribution for the growing nose and analysis of the total nasal resistance is addressed, and typical findings of nasal valve phenomena are outlined.

The authors' findings strongly support their clinical experience that the free diced cartilage graft technique presents an effective and easily reproducible method for camouflage and augmentation in aesthetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty.