An Anthropometric Study of Medial and Middle Crus of Alar Cartilages

Han, Seung Kyu; Lee, Chi Ho; Kim, Woo Kyung

Abstract

The lack of information germane to alar cartilages in Asians led us to conduct a morphologic and anthropometric study. The purpose of this prospective study was to define the shape of the medial crus of alar cartilage and measure their size. Measurements of 42 medial crura of alar cartilages in 21 Koreans were obtained during 21 consecutive primary open approach rhinoplasties between September of 1999 and February of 2000 in the Korea University Guro Hospital. Eight were male and thirteen were female. Measurements parameters of medial crus included shape, length, width, and thickness. In addition, symmetry of the medial crura and length of the middle crus were also investigated. In the male patients(n = 16), the most common shape was the straight shape(n = 9), followed by the simple flared shape(n = 5), complex flared shape(n = 2). The length of the columellar segment ranged from 8-12 mm, the average being 10.0 mm. That of the footplate segment averaged 7.8 mm, ranging from 6-9 mm. The average width and thickness were 4.3 mm and 0.58 mm. Seven patients showed symmetric shape, but one patient did not. The average length of the middle crus was 4.90 mm. In the female patients(n = 26), the most common shape was the straight shape(n = 12), followed by the simple flared shape (n = 11), complex flared shape(n = 3). The length of the columellar segment ranged from 7-9 mm, the average being 8.0 mm. That of the footplate segment averaged 6.3 mm, ranging from 4-9 mm. The average width and thickness were 4.4 mm and 0.56 mm. Ten patients showed symmetric shape, but three patients did not. The average length of the middle crus was 4.9 mm. In conclusion, the most common shape of the medial crus was straight and the average length of footplate segment was 7.0 mm, which is actually greater than that of Caucasian.