[Transvestibular closure with an autologous bone graft as surgical repair of a nasoseptal defect due to Le Fort-I osteotomy].

Defects of the nasal septum are a common complication after nasal surgery. Affected patients frequently suffer from bleeding, crusting and impaired nasal air flow. The surgical closure of septal defects remains a distinctive challenge. Though many different techniques have been described, the failure rate of this procedure remains high. In the case presented here, a large basal septum defect occurred after a prosthetic Le Fort-I osteotomy. The attempt to cover the distance between the bony nasal floor and the nasal septum with pedicled mucosal flaps failed due to extensive scar formation of the nasal mucosa. Therefore a nasal floor elevation by insertion of an autologous bone graft from the iliac crest was conducted. The bone graft was connected with the hard palate via two titanium screws. Other than with an autologous cartilage graft, no major resorption of the bone graft is to be expected. This indirect method for the closure of a basal nasal septum defect is new.