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Restoring nasal lining is one of the essential parts during reconstruction of full-thickness defects of the nose. Without a sufficient nasal lining the whole reconstruction will fail. Nasal lining has to sufficiently cover the shaping subsurface framework. But in addition, lining must not compromise or even block nasal ventilation. This article demonstrates different possibilities of lining reconstruction. The use of composite grafts for small rim defects is described. The limits and technical components for application of skin grafts are discussed. Then the advantages and limitations of endonasal, perinasal, and hingeover flaps are demonstrated. Strategies to restore lining with one or two forehead flaps are presented. Finally, the possibilities and technical aspects to reconstruct nasal lining with a forearm flap are demonstrated. Technical details are explained by intraoperative pictures. Clinical cases are shown to illustrate the different approaches and should help to understand the process of decision making. It is concluded that although the lining cannot be seen after reconstruction of the cover it remains one of the key components for nasal reconstruction. When dealing with full-thickness nasal defects, there is no way to avoid learning how to restore nasal lining.

The nose represents the center of the face. The nasal shape changes with the progression from infancy to adulthood. In newborns, the main supporting structure of the nose is the dorsal septal cartilage; it is the facial growth center. The loss of septal cartilage at different ages leads to various facial syndromes involving the nose, maxilla, and orbita. Therefore, every surgical treatment can compromise not only the nasal growth but also the growth of the whole face. Childhood trauma or a malformation of the nose can also cause enormous functional impairments similar to those caused by surgical treatments. Our contribution represents different aspects of nasal deformities and their treatment. An individual concept is indispensable to reach the best compromise in all cases. The postulate of an early treatment gives priority to physical and mental damage control. The late therapy concept uses the inimitable potential of the growth of different tissues needed for a septoplasty and should be protected from iatrogenic impairment. We recommend a first-line pediatric nasal reconstruction, an attentive follow-up, and finally, a secondary nasal reconstruction in the adult patient if required for achieving normalcy.

Because of better public education and earlier diagnosis of skin tumors, the number of soft tissue defects of the nose with limited size and depth after tumor resection is increasing. A variety of surgical methods such as skin grafts, regional flaps such as forehead flap, and local flaps have been described. The method of choice is dependent on the defect size, localization, skin structure and the wishes and expectations, and general condition of the patient. Nasal reconstruction for soft tissue defects in the supratip area, dorsum, and sidewalls using local rotation and/or advancement flaps is our primary option. But achieving supreme results with these non-subunit-based techniques is still a challenge. Showing schematic figures and case studies, this article is aimed at assisting surgeons in the planning and decision making of which flap is appropriate for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the nose.

In general, septoplasty precedes all other procedures in rhinoplasty because a straight, stable septum dictates profoundly the aesthetic and functional outcome. The patient's history and expectations, proper preoperative analysis, and the surgeon's skills determine the way to proceed in septum correction. As a rule of thumb, slight deviations (e.g., single vomer spurs, maxillary crests, the septal tilt, and simple C-shaped deformities) may be managed endonasally using the hemitransfixion incision and procedures such as the swinging door technique, scoring incisions, batten grafts, or caudal septal replacement grafts. By contrast, for S-shaped and severe wavelike deviations, the cleft nose, the multiple fractured septum, and for most revisional cases, the open approach with extracorporeal septum reconstruction has been found to be the method of choice. After initial general remarks on the basic procedures, this article focuses on current concepts of septum correction that have to be adapted to the individual pathologic condition.

One of the most difficult aspects in rhinoplasty is resolving and preventing functional compromise of the nasal valve area reliably. The nasal valves are crucial for the individual breathing competence of the nose. Structural and functional elements contribute to this complex system: the nasolabial angle, the configuration and stability of the alae, the function of the internal nasal valve, the anterior septum symmetrically separating the bilateral airways and giving structural and functional support to the alar cartilage complex and to their junction with the upper lateral cartilages, the scroll area. Subsequently, the open angle between septum and sidewalls is important for sufficient airflow as well as the position and function of the head of the turbinates. The clinical examination of these elements is described. Surgical techniques are more or less well known and demonstrated with patient examples and drawings: anterior septoplasty, reconstruction of tip and dorsum support by septal extension grafts and septal replacement, tip suspension and lateral crural sliding technique, spreader grafts and suture techniques, splay grafts, alar batten grafts, lateral crural extension grafts, and lateral alar suspension. The numerous literature is reviewed.

Even today, the difficult septum presents a surgical problem. A severe septum deformity is caused mostly by an accident or is seen in patients with malformations such as cleft lip and palate deformity. It is characterized by a massive malformation in all levels with consecutive blocking of one or both airways. Such marked septal deformities cannot be corrected properly by standard septoplasty techniques. Therefore, in such cases we suggest an extracorporeal septoplasty, where we take out the whole septum and reconstruct a new septal plate by different techniques followed by replantation and reconstruction of the cartilaginous dorsum. From January 1, 1981 to December 31, 2005, we operated on 2301 patients and improved this method constantly, especially the safe septal fixation and rebuilding of the cartilaginous dorsum. Follow-ups showed that even in severe deformities a revision rate of only 5% respectively 7% was found. Therefore, we conclude that the extracorporeal septoplasty with its refinements and the way we are doing it today can also be recommended to less experienced rhinosurgeons.