Modified alar batten grafts for treatment in nasal valve dysfunction: Our experience

Abstract

Objective: Alar batten grafts are used to treat in nasal valve dysfunction (NVD). They can be placed by open or closed rhinoplasty using rib, septal, or auricular concha cartilage. Our surgical team used a modified placement of the classic alar batten.We aim to describe these changes and to the technique and demonstrate that modified alar batten grafts can improve the effects of spreader grafts and classic alar batten grafts. Methods: A retrospective study of 91 functional rhinoplasties was performed from March 2011 to November 2019 at a public university hospital in Murcia. The patients were divided into three groups. Group A included patients operated on using spreader grafts, group B included patients operated on using spreader grafts associated with alar batten grafts fixed to the caudal edge of the lateral crura of the lower lateral cartilage (LLC), and group C included patients operated on using modified alar batten grafts. Results: A total of 91 functional rhinoplasties were performed, 31 patients were operated on in group A, 27 patients were operated on in group B, and 33 patients were operated on in group C. The success rate was 67.7% in group A, 70.4% in group B and 93.9% in group C. Conclusion: Modified alar batten grafts achieved better results than spreader grafts and spreader grafts associated with classic alar batten grafts. The size, position and placement of the sutures of modified alar batten grafts were the key factors in improving our results.