Facial Plast Surg 2019; 35(01): 068-072
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675632
Original Research
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Use of Tissue Expander for Contracted Scarred Saddle Deformity Rhinoplasty

Erin Ostby
1   Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California
,
Jared Inman
1   Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California
,
Farhad Ardeshirpour
1   Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California
2   Ardesh Facial Plastic Surgery, Beverly Hills, California
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
19 December 2018 (online)

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to present an alternative technique for the reconstruction of saddle nose deformity in patients with severely scarred or contracted soft tissue envelopes. In this single surgeon case series, the authors present a two-staged reconstruction performed on four adult patients with saddle nose deformities and contracted soft tissue envelope stemming from a variety of etiologic factors including vasculitis, sarcoidosis, and trauma. Stage one involved placement of a 1 × 4 cm tissue expander along the nasal dorsum through anterior scalp and endonasal incisions. The tissue expander port was positioned under the anterior scalp and injected with saline over 3 weeks in-office. Stage two involved removal of the tissue expander and rhinoplasty using osteocartilaginous rib grafts. All four patients had successful expansion of the contracted soft tissue envelope, creating adequate space for the newly reconstructed nasal framework. One patient developed exposure of the tissue expander through the endonasal incision, which did not lead to any adverse outcome. All patients in this series tolerated expansion well, without complaints of pain or external skin breakdown. The use of soft tissue expanders along the nasal dorsum can successfully expand contracted and scarred soft tissue envelopes prior to reconstructive rhinoplasty. This technique may be an effective alternative to the use of interpolated flaps in treating these patients.

 
  • References

  • 1 Cakmak O, Emre IE, Ozkurt FE. Identifying septal support reconstructions for saddle nose deformity: the Cakmak algorithm. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2015; 17 (06) 433-439
  • 2 Christophel JJ, Hilger PA. Osseocartilaginous rib graft rhinoplasty: a stable, predictable technique for major dorsal reconstruction. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2011; 13 (02) 78-83
  • 3 Baker SR, Swanson NA. Clinical applications of tissue expansion in head and neck surgery. Laryngoscope 1990; 100 (03) 313-319
  • 4 Hoffman HT, Baker SR. Nasal reconstruction with the rapidly expanded forehead flap. Laryngoscope 1989; 99 (10 Pt 1): 1096-1098
  • 5 Baker SR, Swanson NA. Tissue expansion of the head and neck. Indications, technique, and complications. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1990; 116 (10) 1147-1153
  • 6 Romo III T, Jablonski RD, Shapiro AL, McCormick SA. Long-term nasal mucosal tissue expansion use in repair of large nasoseptal perforations. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995; 121 (03) 327-331
  • 7 Ozturk S, Zor F, Sengezer M. Nasal dorsum skin expansion for reconstruction of saddle nose due to gunshot injury: a case report. Can J Plast Surg 2005; 13 (03) 148-150