Rethinking nasal osteotomies: An anatomic approach

OBJECTIVES: To review our experience with our anatomic (medial, transverse, and lateral) nasal osteotomy technique for correcting the asymmetric bony nasal vault in esthetic and functional rhinoplasty. METHODS: All patients undergoing anatomic nasal osteotomy technique by the senior author (y.d.) from August 1997 to August 2005 with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative photographs and clinical examination were analyzed to determine restoration of a symmetric bony nasal vault configuration. RESULTS: A total of 322 patients met the inclusion criteria. Percent of patients who had favorable results with restoration of a symmetric bony nasal vault configuration was 98.1%. Six (1.9%) patients required revision surgery at the level of the nasal bones with repeat osteotomies or dorsal rasping. All six of these patients had favorable outcomes after revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic nasal osteotomy technique represents an effective, simple, and logical approach for correcting asymmetric bony nasal vault.