Bone Recycling in Nasal Septal Reconstruction

Septal reconstruction alone or together with rhinoplasty can be a very challenging operation. In situations where septal cartilage is used for grafting or is not enough, bony implants taken from the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid and vomer can be used as a filler material between the mucoperichondrial flaps to avoid from unwanted mucosal atrophy, flapping, and septal perforation. These bony implants can also be used for splinting the dorsal and/or caudal segment of the septal cartilage after reshaping by rongeurs. On rare occasions, they can even be used for subtotal reconstruction of the septum.