Rhinoplasty: The nasal bones-anatomy and analysis

Abstract

Backg round: Th e analysis of nasal anatomy, and especially the nasal bones includi ng the osseocartilaginou s vault, is signifi cant for functio nal and aesthetic reasons. Objectives: The objective was to understand the anatomy of the nasal bones by establishing new descriptions, terms, and defi nitions beca use the existing parameters were insuffi cient. Adequate terminology was employed to harmonize the anthropome tric and clinical m easurements. Methods: A two-p art harvest techniq ue cons isting of resecting the specimen and then creating a replica of the skull was performed on 44 cadavers to obtain specifi c measurements. Results: The nasal bone s have an irregular, variable shape, and three distinct angl es ca n be found along the dorsal profi le line beginning with the nasion angl e (NA), the dorsal profi le angul ation (DPA) and the kyphion angulation (K A). In 12% of cases, the caudal portio n of the nasa l bone s was straight and without angul ation resulting in a " V-shape" confi guration. In 88% of cases, the caudal portion of the bone was angulated, which resulted in an " S-shape" nasal bone confi guration. The intervening cephalic bone, nasion to sellion (N-S), represents the radix while the caudal bone, se llion to r (S-R), represents the bony dorsum. Conclusio ns: By standardizi ng and measuring existing nasa l landmarks and unde rstanding the diffe ren t anatomic confi gurations of the nasal bone s, rhinoplasty surgeons can better plan their operations within the radix and bony and osseocartilaginou s vaults.