Application of Autologous Cartilage Transplantation in the Repair and Reconstruction of Nasal Soft-Tissue Triangle Deformities

Objective: To evaluate the effect of autologous cartilage transplantation in repairing nasal soft-tissue triangle deformities. Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 23 patients underwent the surgery, got part of the costal cartilage, nasal septum cartilage or ear cartilage, An open incision was made along the medial nasal columella and lateral rim of nostril, the cartilage was carved into strips as a graft of the lateral and middle crus of the alar cartilage in order to reconstruct the nasal alar dome and correct the nasal soft-tissue triangle deformities. The costal cartilage or nasal septum cartilage was used as columellar strut. At the same time, a prosthetic or autologous costal cartilage scaffold was placed onto the nasal dorsum, and fascia tissue was placed on the tip of the nose to relieve tensions. The changes of the angle of the medial and lateral crus of the alar cartilage before and after autologous cartilage transplantation and the difference between the greatest distance from the long axis of the nostrils to the alar rim before and after the operation were statistically analyzed. The changes of nasal appearance pre and postoperation were compared. To evaluate the correction effect of nasal soft-tissue triangle deformities, bilateral asymmetry and overall surgical effect. The surgical results were evaluated by comparing the pre- and postoperative images, statistical analysis the difference of alar cartilage angle along inside and outside feet before and after the fornix reconstruction, and evaluate the efficacy satisfaction of repairation for retraction, notching, asymmetries of nasal soft-tissue triangle deformities and overall effect of the rhinoplasty. Results: The alar cartilage angle of the 23 patients was (50.6±12.4)° preoperative, decreased to(35.0±5.6)° when the nasal dome reconstruction was finished, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). The patients were followed up for 6 to 18 months, the noses were with natural appearance and tactile impression, and there were no serious complications. The degree of satisfaction was 87.5%. Conclusion: Using autologous cartilage to repair the soft-tissue triangle deformities is an ideal surgical method, the nasal morphology can be improved delicately, and the degree of satisfaction is high postoperatively.