Primary aesthetic correction of nasal anomaly with costal graft in treating orbital hypertelorism.

Orbital hypertelorism is a common congenital craniofacial anomaly in Asians. As Tessier pointed out, the correction of hypertelorism is effectively the correction of the nasal deformity, which is characterized by a broad, flat nose accompanying an increased interorbital distance and a lack of nasal projection.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the changes in the orbital and nasal parameters after Tessier box osteotomy and primary aesthetic rhinoplasty, performed concurrently with otogenous costochondral graft.

METHODS: From 2009 to 2013, 49 hypertelorism patients were treated in our craniofacial unit. Correction involved a classic Tessier box osteotomy combined with aesthetic augmentation and reconstruction of the nasal dorsum using a costochondral graft. All patients underwent photographic and tomographic documentation both before and 12 months after surgery. Patients underwent morphometric analysis to document the change in interorbital distance, IOD, hypertelorism index, and aesthetic nasal parameters, including the nasal dorsum and alar width, the nasal dorsal height, and the index of nasal apex protrusion versus nasal length.

RESULTS: All patients were satisfied with the outcome of the combined orbital and nasal repair. Morphometric analysis indicated that the IOD, hypertelorism index, and aesthetic nasal parameters all improved following surgery. The resorption rate of the costochondral graft was 16-19%, and graft warpage was nearly absent. Although complications included infection, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and hyposomia, no severe or life-threatening complications occurred.

CONCLUSION: Tessier box osteotomy with primary aesthetic rhinoplasty using costochondral grafts has shown to be efficacious in the treatment of patients with hypertelorism.