Aesthetic results after nasal dorsum reconstruction using external approach for congenital nasal midline heterotopias

Objective. To analyze aesthetic results after nasal dorsum reconstruction using external or combined approaches for various congenital nasal median heterotopias. Material and methods. We analyzed treatment outcomes in 33 patients with various congenital nasal median heterotopias who underwent nasal dorsum reconstruction through external (20 patients) or combined approach (13 patients). Patients and experts assessed aesthetic results using the Nasal Appearance and Functional Evaluation Questionnaire (NAFEQ) scale at different follow-up periods (after 3, 6, 12 months or more). We compared assessments of nasal dorsum, external nose shape, size and shape of postoperative scar on nasal dorsum, incidence of satisfactory results after removal of pathological formations in the upper, middle and lower thirds of nasal dorsum. Results. Good results were achieved in 97% of cases depending on the NAFEQ score. The ratings presented by patients were higher than those of expert assessments. Experts recognized favorable outcomes in all patients after ≥12 months. There were no significant differences in results when removing tumors in the upper, middle and lower thirds of nasal dorsum. Conclusion. Original nasal dorsum reconstruction provided favorable results in 100% of cases according to experts and patients. Positive assessments were obtained in most cases after removing tumors in the upper and middle thirds of nasal dorsum.