The epidemiology of autologous tissue grafting in primary and revision rhinoplasty

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the percentage of primary versus revision rhinoplasty cases that require an extranasal source of grafting, as well as age and gender-specific trends.

Study design: Cross-sectional analysis of multistate ambulatory surgery and hospital databases.

Methods: Ambulatory rhinoplasty procedures were extracted from the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases for New York, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, and Florida for 2014 to 2015. Cases were examined for simultaneous use of extranasal grafts.

Results: A total of 8,510 rhinoplasties were extracted (65.3% female, mean age = 35.6 years), and 11.9% were revision cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.2-12.6). An extranasal, autologous source of grafting was required in 12.7% of cases (5.3% auricular, 95% CI: 4%-6.6%; 1.8% costal, 95% CI: 1%-2.6%). Revision cases were more likely to require a secondary source of grafting (24.4%, 95% CI: 21.8%-27.1% vs. 11.1%, 95% CI: 10.3%-11.8%). In revision cases, the most common graft was auricular cartilage (14.4%, 95% CI: 12.2%-16.6%) followed by costal (7.1%, 95% CI: 5.52%-8.69%). Only 1.1% of primary cases required costal cartilage (95% CI: 0.88%-1.36%) compared to 7.1% of revision cases (95% CI: 5.52%-8.69%). Of the primary cases, 4.1% required auricular cartilage grafting (95% CI: 3.67%-4.57%) compared to 14.4% of revision cases (95% CI: 12.2%-16.6%). Patients who required a graft were older. Significantly more males required autologous grafting than females (P = .047).

Conclusions: Cartilaginous or bony grafting is a critical surgical technique in both primary and secondary rhinoplasties. This is the first study to examine percentages of site-specific autologous grafting from auricular and costal donor sites for primary and revision cases. Gender and age-specific trends associated with specific grafting sites are also identified. These data are important to help guide preoperative counseling and informed consent for all rhinoplasty surgeries.

Level of evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 129:1549-1553, 2019.

Keywords: Rhinoplasty; auricular cartilage; autologous costal cartilage; bone graft; cartilage graft; ear cartilage; nasal valve repair; revision rhinoplasty; rib cartilage; septorhinoplasty.