Middle vault deviation of the nose is composed of the upper lateral cartilage (ULC) and nasal septum, and it has a significant effect on the aesthetic and functional aspects of the nose. The ULC is a part of the internal nasal valve, which is important to the nasal airway and can cause the functional problem of nasal obstruction [1,2]. There are two important concepts for correcting a deviated nose. First, straightening of the nasal septum and balancing the asymmetric structure of the nose [3]. Before surgery, the most important aspect is to identify the anatomic cause of the deviation. A nose with middle vault deviation usually involves asymmetry of both ULCs. The second aspect is to correct the septum or bony vault asymmetry prior to fixing middle vault deviation.

Many surgical techniques that concentrate on the ULC to correct middle vault deviation have been reported. Camouflage or onlay grafts are performed for mild deviations, while spreader grafts or clocking sutures are used for severe deviations [4,5]. However, straightening the middle third of the dorsum is surgically quite challenging, and these methods still have limitations.

If the size of the ULC still affects middle vault deviation after correcting other parts, resection and balancing of the larger side of cartilage should be considered as an additional technique for correcting the deviation. We call this approach triangular resection of the ULC. We aimed to report a series of 17 cases using the newly invented triangular resection technique of the ULC and to evaluate the effect of this procedure for correcting middle vault deviation.

The mean age was 30.1 years (range, 18 to 49 years), and 12 patients were male (70.6%). Fifteen patients were Korean, and two patients were Caucasian (one male and one female). The mean follow-up period of 17 patients was 6.6 months. Immediate postoperative results were evaluated with the first postoperative photograph and the average time taken for first photography was about 3 weeks after surgery. Long-term results were available in 12 patients and two patients had only long-term results; the mean follow-up period of 12 patients was 9.1 months. Two revision rhinoplasty cases were included. Four patients had bony vault deviations; another five patients had hump noses, and three patients suffered from both. Ten patients underwent lateral and medial osteotomies of the nasal bone (Table 1).

Nasal tip deviation angle was immediately reduced from 5.66º (4.03º–6.75º) to 2.37º (1.91º–2.81º) (P<0.001). Middle vault deviation was also improved from 169.50º (165.99º–172.82º) to 177.24º (174.89º–178.34º) (P<0.001). The ideal angle for nasal tip deviation is 0º and middle vault deviation is 180º. Therefore, when comparing pre- and postoperative results, both postoperative values close to the ideal angles, respectively. The long-term results of 12 patients were 2.49º (0.80º–3.91º) (P=0.015) for nasal tip deviation and 178.68º (175.78º–178.98º) (P=0.002) for middle vault deviation (Table 2). There were no significant differences between the immediate and long-term results (P=0.807 for nasal tip deviation and P=0.242 for middle vault deviation, respectively).

Two independent physicians evaluated the aesthetic outcome using the final results for each patient; complete correction in eight patients (47.1%), minimally visible deviation in seven patients (41.2%) and remaining residual deviation in two patients (11.8%). Fig. 3 shows pre- and postoperative photos of complete correction patients.

Thirteen patients completed pre- and postoperative acoustic rhinometry. Pre- and postoperative MCAs of summation of the right and left sides were 0.86 (0.28) and 1.07 (0.39), respectively (P=0.021) (Fig. 4A).

Fifteen patients answered about their nasal obstruction symptoms and the median score was improved from 6.0 (3.0) to 3.0 (3.0) (P=0.004) (Fig. 4B). Among them, only one patient who had severe S-shaped septal deviation reported that nasal obstruction symptom was aggravated after surgery. There was one revision septoplasty and one repair surgery required for minimal septal perforation after the primary surgery.

Triangular resection of the ULC has a significant effect on the straightness and balance of the middle vault. The functional and aesthetic results of this new technique were satisfactory to both the surgeon and patients. Middle vault deviation, especially middle vault deviation angle, was significantly improved in all patients; only two patients had residual deviation. In addition, subjective nasal obstruction and the MCA of acoustic rhinometry were also alleviated. The main purpose of this procedure is to balance the ULCs. Asymmetry of the ULC in the deviation of the middle vault is accompanied with a widening and lengthening of one side of the ULC. Therefore, triangular resection might be an essential procedure if the size of the ULCs is dissimilar.

The spreader graft has been a common procedure for widening the nasal valve area or straightening the middle vault of the nose since Sheen [11] first introduced this technique. This type of graft is considered the gold standard for open roof deformity after dorsal hump removal. Since then, various modified methods of reduction rhinoplasty have been reported, including the spreader flap, autospreader graft, autospreader flap, and modified triangular spreader graft [12-15].

For straightening the dorsum, a spreader graft can restore an aesthetic line of the concave side or of both sides [16]. Due to the accompanying widening effect of a spreader graft, it is inevitable that the dorsum is widened in patients who have a large enough internal valve angle. Furthermore, a spreader graft has no consideration for the asymmetry of the ULC and balancing both sides, which is important for straightening the middle vault.

In the present study, a triangular resection was performed so as to only remove the surplus portion of the ULC; there were no influences on the dorsal width. The nasal bone of Asian noses is flatter and lower than that of Caucasian noses, and the associated ULC is wider [17,18]. Nasal obstruction caused by internal valve narrowing is an uncommon complication in Asian noses, and the effect of a spreader graft is vague [10].

Another disadvantage of a spreader graft is that it requires septal cartilage harvest; sometimes conchal or costal cartilage is required in cases of revision septoplasty or with a severely deviated septum [19]. If the harvesting of ear or rib cartilages is necessary, surgeons often worry about donor site morbidities; the associated procedures are also time-consuming and laborious. Spreader flaps have no requirement for cartilage harvesting, but one disadvantage of this method is that it can only be used in those who have adequate ULC height and rigidity [20]. For all these reasons, triangular resection of the ULC might be considered an adjunctive surgical option for correcting middle vault deviation. In addition, triangular resection may be combined with a spreader graft to balance the ULCs. If a spreader graft is used for the concave side of the middle vault, the ULC of the opposite side will require a triangular resection. In the case of a spreader flap, a unilateral spreader flap can be made with the wider side of the ULC and the folded portion in much the same manner as removing part of the triangular resection. In contrast, a bilateral spreader flap requires a triangular resection of any excessive ULC to achieve symmetry [20]. In some selected cases, triangular resection might be used alone and it can be substituent procedure of spreader graft or spreader flap.

The functional effect of spreader graft or flap on nasal valve area has been questionable and unestablished. Acoustic rhinometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) are commonly used methods to assess objective nasal obstruction. These measurements not only test the nasal valve area but also reflect the entire nasal cavity. Saedi et al. [13] evaluated the functional outcomes of spreader flaps with a randomized setting in Iranian patients and concluded that there was no significant difference of the MCA between the spreader flap and the control group. Xavier et al. [21] assessed nasal breathing with PNIF in patients who underwent rhinoplasty with spreader graft as well as in those without a spreader graft. PNIF increased in both groups, but the changes were not statistically different. Most patients in the present study underwent septoplasty simultaneously, and acoustic rhinometry changes were influenced by the septoplasty’s effects. Septoplasty was performed simultaneously along with triangular resection of the ULC; although the postoperative result of the mean MCA increased and asymmetry of the nasal cavity’s MCA improved, there was no statistical significance. In addition, no patients reported valve problems preoperatively, and no valve collapse was observed during surgery.

The authors evaluated subjective nasal obstruction using a patient-reported Likert scale; most patients experienced an improvement in their symptoms. Only one patient complained of nasal obstruction on the opposite side, which had been wider before the septoplasty. The reason was septal overcorrection, and the symptoms were alleviated after one month.

The limitations of this study include the short-term duration of follow-up and the variety of ancillary surgical procedures. It is difficult to identify the effect of triangular resection only; therefore, randomized clinical trials with a large population are warranted to better define the surgical effects. Although there was no complication in this pilot study, such as saddle nose or valve collapse, complications are possible when we handle the ULC and septum. Therefore, more participants and a long-term follow-up period are required for future studies.

Correcting middle vault deviation is surgically challenging and it has a risk of internal valve problem. Triangular resection of the ULC is a very simple and timesaving method for correcting middle vault deviation and balancing the ULCs, and results in good aesthetic and functional outcomes. This technique was also accompanied with a spreader graft to balance the ULCs.