A systematic approach for preoperative rhinoplasty planning.

There is ample instructive literature on preoperative analysis of the rhinoplasty patient available to the present day provider. However, the literature does show a paucity of instruction to convert the preoperative analysis into a surgical plan of action. The purpose of this article is to provide a systematic approach to preoperative planning once the analysis has been done.

Analysis of the physical properties of costal cartilage in a porcine model.

Objective: To determine the impact of interventions on the degree of warping of costal cartilage.

Methods: The project was conducted at a large university animal research laboratory. The costal cartilage of eight 30-kg domestic pigs was harvested.

The role of powered instrumentation in rhinoplasty and septoplasty.

Rhinoplasty and septoplasty are commonly performed surgical procedures that have as many variables in execution as the number of surgeons that perform them. Initially, these procedures were performed using manual instrumentation. Recently, however, powered instruments have been used to perform portions of the two procedures.

Scar revision.

Classic techniques of scar revision in general are ablative and remain the gold standard, although newer nonablative laser therapies, such as the frequency-doubled neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, can help. Ablative therapies and techniques are examined.

Opening plugged tympanostomy tubes.

Objective: To determine the most effective solvents for dissolving plugged tympanostomy tubes.

Study Design: In vitro laboratory study.

Methods: Twelve solvents (including ototopical antibiotics and water) were applied to fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes (n = 260) plugged with dried mucoid middle ear effusion in an ear canal-tympanic membrane model.

Defining tympanostomy tube plugs.

Objectives: To define the composition of tympanostomy tube plugs because selecting or developing effective solvents depends on such knowledge.

Study Design: Prospective, in vitro laboratory study.

Methods: Luminal contents of 105 plugged, microscopically removed tympanostomy tubes were expressed, pooled, acid hydrolyzed, and passed through a high-performance liquid chromatography column.