Bone grafts as a recyclable material in nasal surgeries

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate long-term results of septal bone grafting and to show sustainable viability of bone grafts with objective parameters such as computed tomography. Methods: Nasal septal bones were used as splinting grafts during septo/rhinoplasty operations in 27 patients (Male = 16; Female = 11) between 2009 and 2013. Of these, only the 21 patients who were monitored long-term and who had computed tomography (CT) records were included in this investigation. The average duration of monitoring for the patients reported here was 17(12-37 months) months. Patients were excluded for the following reasons: pregnancy; morbid obesity; uncontrolled diabetes; long-term oral steroid or chemotherapeutic agent use; inflammatory, systemic or immunodeficiency disease or acute local infections at the operative site. Bone graft positions, lengths and respective resorption were evaluated and compared pre-postoperatively for each patient. Results: Bone grafts retained 90% of their lengths in 14 of the 21(66.6%) patients. In other cases, control computed sinus tomography showed four bone grafts at 80%, two grafts with 70%, and one graft retained 60% of the original lengths. None of the grafts showed resorption less than 50%. Conclusion: Bone grafts are reliable grafts and can be used as an alternative to cartilage grafts. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.