J Rhinol.  2014 May;21(1):41-43. 10.0000/jr.2014.21.1.41.

The Footplate Suture Technique for External Nasal Valve Surgery

• Cho JH
• Han SY
• Kim TH
• Kim DE
• Ahn BH

• KMID: 2146671
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jr.2014.21.1.41

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
To report the preliminary results of the footplate suture technique for narrowing the columellar base to improve nasal respiration and the cosmetic features of the nasal sill.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with nasal obstruction who presented with external nasal valve obstruction were treated with the footplate suture technique. Data on the patient characteristics, operative procedures, and outcomes were gathered from medical records.
RESULTS
Five patients were included in this study. The footplate suture technique was used in all patients, together with septoplasty, batten graft and inferior turbinoplasty to improve the nasal valve obstruction as needed. In each case, divergent footplate segments of the medial nasal alar crura were identified and tied to medialize and narrow the columellar base. All patients had satisfactory subjective nasal breathing and cosmetic results.
CONCLUSIONS
The footplate suture technique is an adjunctive procedure that improves the nasal obstruction and nasal sill disfiguration caused by external nasal valve obstruction, especially due to the divergent footplate segments of the medial alar crura.

Keyword

Rhinoplasty; Nasal Obstruction; Cartilage; Sutures

MeSH Terms

Cartilage
Humans
Medical Records
Nasal Obstruction
Respiration
Rhinoplasty
Surgical Procedures, Operative
Suture Techniques*
Sutures
Transplants