SECONDARY CORRECTION OF THE UNILATERAL CLEFT NOSE DEFORMITY WITH AN ENDONASAL TECHNIQUE

Malposition of the nasal bone, septum and the alar cartilage are strik ing features of the unilateral cleft nose deformity. An endonasal tech nique (the extra-mucosal) was used in 26 patients, aged 13-38 (median 19), to correct aesthetic and functional problems. Twenty-four patient s were secondary and two were tertiary. The patients were followed fro m 1-9 years. The pathological anatomy of the septum varied considerabl y, so different types of septoplasties had to be done. In 20 patients, satisfactory aesthetic and functional results were obtained in one op eration. Secondary corrections were indicated in six patients. In case s with no gross scarring in or around the alar cartilage, the form and position of this cartilage will be more normal once the alar cartilag es have been undermined and the deviation of the nasal bone and the se ptum is corrected.