Introduction:
The nose is the most prominent feature of the face with great aesthetic and functional importance. Nasal defects are caused by various factors including trauma and malignancy. Nasal reconstruction was among the earliest plastic surgical procedures performed. Many nasal reconstructive procedures are described depending on type , location, depth of defect and the surgeons expertise.
Methods:
This was a 5 year study, conducted in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ,from January 2015 to December 2019. A total of 49 patients were included in the study. The aetiology, site, size, depth and characteristics of the nasal defect, relation to aesthetic zones of the nose and condition of the surrounding area were analysed. Each patient was planned and treated by the best available reconstructive procedure and any complications were assessed and managed in the postoperative period.
Results:
About 75% patients admitted with nasal defects were in the middle and elder age group with almost equal number of males and females . Malignancy and trauma were the most common cause of nasal defect. About ¾th of the patients had only partial thickness involvement and the most common defects were alar. Reconstructive procedures included split-thickness and full-thickness skin grafts ,forehead flap in most of the patients.
Conclusion:
There are multiple options available for nasal reconstruction. We conclude that the grafts can give very good results in all aesthetic subunits. The reconstruction type used has a great impact upon the complication and on the number of hospitalisation days.
Key words: nasal defects, nasal reconstruction, nasal subunits, split-thickness skin graft, full-thickness skin graft, forehead flap, free radial forearm flap, Limberg flap, glabellar flap, bilobed flap, bear maul.\
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