Introduction: Preservation or reconstruction of the middle nasal vault structure and internal nasal valve after dorsal reduction is challenging. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze a series of 100 consecutive rhinoplasty cases with respect to preservation or restoration of the dorsal nasal lines following component dorsal reduction technique a new quantitative mathematical application to subject digital images was performed.
Material and methods: Medical information and digital images were obtained from one hundred (100) consecutive primary rhinoplasty patients from one author (RJR) with UTSW IRB consent. All post-surgery subject digital images were taken with more than one year follow-up. Pre-operative and post-operative digital images of the dorsal nasal aesthetic lines were analyzed using a software application that quantitated various facial anatomical features compared to landmarks measurements unique for each subject (pupil-pupil distance). Dorsal line symmetry, width of the nose, and variation of deformities with each side of the face were determined.
Results: Mean subject dorsal line symmetry was 68% pre-operative and 94% post-operatively. Only 32.5% of dorsal lines were harmonious pre-operatively while 97% of the dorsal lines were harmonious post-operatively. Identification of dorsal lines post-operatively versus pre-operatively was: 74.6% similar; 5.7% improved; and 9.7%.decreased. Nasal width lines were similar in 36 subjects, 21 subjects had wider nasal width lines and 43 subjects had narrower width lines after surgery.
Conclusion: Component dorsal hump reduction procedures result in reliable and reproducible clinical outcomes. Quantitative assessments provide evidence that improved and the harmonious curves of dorsal aesthetic lines are achievable.