Modified butterfly graft still effective tool in rhinoplasty

(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing rhinoplasty with a modified butterfly graft, there is a decrease in the Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation score, according to a study published online July 7 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Myriam Loyo, M.D., from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and colleagues conducted a retrospective review to analyze outcomes of adults who had undergone primary or secondary rhinoplasty with butterfly grafting. Thirty-four patients (23 women, 11 men) were included in the case series.

The researchers found that the mean graft length was 3.4 cm and the mean width 0.9 cm. After surgery there was a significant decrease in the Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation score (mean preoperative score, 69 versus mean postoperative score, 23). Seventy-four, 18, and 3 percent of patients rated their appearance as improved or unchanged, minimally worse, and much worse, respectively. Fifty-nine masked observers participated in the study; they observed the graft 59.7 percent of the time that it was present. Its presence was suspected in 36.5 percent of cases when it was not present.

"The modified butterfly graft is a longer and thinner graft than the originally described butterfly graft. It is still an effective tool in the treatment of nasal obstruction with acceptable visibility," the authors write. "In most cases, it is difficult for health care professionals to identify the presence of the graft."