A "modified-flying wing" procedure for the treatment of saddle nose and supratip pathologies.

OBJECTIVES: In this report, we present the usage of a "modified flying wing" procedure for different indications such as correction of primary supratip depression and saddle nose deformity due to prior septal surgery or prior trauma, and also for prevention of possible supratip deformity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 2004 and January 2008, the "modified flying wing" procedure was used in a total of 11 patients; for the correction of primary supratip depression deformities in three patients, for the saddle nose deformities due to prior trauma or septal surgery in four patients, and for the prevention of future supratip deformity in four patients (3 males, 8 females; mean age 25.3 years; range 19 to 35 years). The "modified-flying wing" procedure was performed as described by Jugo. Hump removal and medial or lateral osteotomy were considered based on patient status. In all patients a symmetric, balanced nose was achieved with an adequately projected tip and an esthetically satisfactory dorsum extending from the brows to the tip of the nose. No patient required a secondary rhinoplasty.

RESULTS: In all patients the postoperative periods were without any complication and the long-term results were satisfactory.

CONCLUSION: Using a "modified flying wing" procedure for the correction of saddle nose deformity avoids some disadvantages of autografts, such as the tendency of the autograft to warp and curl. Use of this procedure for primary rhinoplasty patients with a risk of developing future supratip deformity prevents this deformity. This combination approach in selected primary rhinoplasty cases provides an esthetically pleasing nose while preventing some complications of classical reduction rhinoplasty. We performed this procedure in 11 patients with good long-term functional and esthetic results.