Rhinoplasty: A Sequential Approach to Managing the Bony Vault

Abstract

Abstract Background An important element of most rhinoplasty surgeries is the treatment of the nasal bones, which involves various combinations of osteotomies and hump removal. Objectives The aim of this paper was to describe a rhinoplasty technique in which piezoelectric instruments (PEIs) are used to shape nasal bones, with the priority being to preserve the stability of these bones. In most clinical cases, nasal bones can be stabilized if rhinosculpture (RS) is applied broadly, both separately and in combination with different osteotomies, while preserving the nasal bridge. Methods A step-by-step algorithm was applied to achieve the required aesthetic results when working with PEIs on the bony pyramid, depending on the degree of asymmetry. We used the fully open approach in all clinical cases, which provided the greatest visual field when performing all the steps involved in treating the bony pyramid, thus fully exploiting all the possibilities and advantages of PEIs. Results We report our experience with 165 clinical cases performed over 18 months from December 2016 to July 2018. The patients were divided into 5 groups, depending on the algorithm selected to treat the bony pyramid. Conclusions When working with the bony pyramid, our approach limits patient movement, thus ensuring stability of the side walls of the bones in both the short and the long term—a property that greatly improves the aesthetic results. Level of Evidence: 4