Nasal bone grafting using split skull grafts.

The nose has been reconstructed with bone grafts, cartilage, and silicone. Each of these methods has disadvantages, but the bone graft is most trouble free. It is possible to take a split skull graft with a high speed drill and an osteotome. The position of the graft site on the skull determines its shape. This can be tailored to the desired nasal contour. Several grafts may be used to build up the nasal dorsum further. This method has been used in patients suffering from acute trauma and deformities resulting from previous trauma, rhinoplasty, congenital anomalies, and after cancer resection. Apart from 1 scalp wound infection, there have been no complications in 24 cases. The degree of bone graft resorption has been minimal, and the level of patient satisfaction has been high.