www.PRSJournal.com 379e
A
chieving a consistent functional and aes-
thetic result when performing rhinoplasty
demands intimate knowledge and under-
standing of nasal anatomy and physiology. Cor-
rection of the deviated nose is no exception.
Accurate preoperative analysis and intraoperative
diagnosis are essential to the surgeon’s success.
Correction of these deformities poses an array of
challenges to the rhinoplasty surgeon because of
the dilemma of dealing with both functional and
aesthetic problems at the same time. The anatomy
of a deviated nose can involve asymmetries of the
bony pyramid, a septal abnormality, or asymme-
tries of the upper and lower lateral cartilages, but
usually involves some combination of these prob-
lems. This can result in nasal airway obstruction
without external deviation, external deviation
without nasal airway obstruction, or external devi-
ation with nasal airway obstruction. In addition,
facial asymmetries add complexity to the analysis.
Classification systems exist for septal deformi-
ties
1
and the deviated nose.
2
A multitude of tech-
niques to address these deformities, including
swinging door flaps, a variety of grafts including
battens and spreaders, scoring, wedging, and extra-
corporeal septoplasty, have been described.
1–20
Despite these various techniques, management
of caudal septal deviation remains challenging.
Building on concepts and techniques used to cor-
rect posterior septal deviation,
2
this technique has
evolved to include the management of the cau-
dally deviated septum.
Caudal septal deviation is common in patients
seeking rhinoplasty. We performed a recent review
of 100 consecutive patients in a single surgeon’s
practice that showed a 44 percent prevalence of
caudal septal deviation. In this article, our current
technique for simplifying the management of the
Disclosure: Dr. Rohrich receives book royalties from
Quality Medical Publishing and instrument royal-
ties from Micrins. The other authors have no finan-
cial interest to declare in relation to the content of
this article.
Copyright © 2014 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000000236
Fadi C. Constantine, M.D.
Jamil Ahmad, M.D.
Palmyra Geissler, M.D.
Rod J. Rohrich, M.D.
Dallas, Texas; and Mississauga, On-
tario, Canada
Summary: Correction of the deviated nose poses a challenge in even the most
experienced hands. Frequently, the surgeon is faced with both a functional
(airway obstruction) and an aesthetic problem that must be addressed con-
jointly. Accurate preoperative analysis and intraoperative diagnosis are integral
to good outcomes. Caudal septal deviation is frequently present in patients
presenting for rhinoplasty. The authors’ current graduated technique for sim-
plifying the management of the caudally deviated septum both aesthetically
and functionally is described. If there is a persistent caudal septal deviation
that has not been addressed by standard maneuvers, the caudal portion of the
anterior septum is resected at the osseocartilaginous junction with the anterior
nasal spine and maxillary crest and then sutured back to the periosteum of the
anterior nasal spine with 5-0 polydioxanone. We have found this to be a safe
and effective way of addressing the caudally deviated septum in the majority
of cases. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 134: 379e, 2014.)
From the Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center; and The Plastic Sur-
gery Clinic.
Received for publication July 16, 2013; accepted December
12, 2013.
Simplifying the Management of Caudal Septal
Deviation in Rhinoplasty
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