Possibility of Cartilage Shifting After Repairing Broken Nose?

Yes, your cartilage can shift. In fact, the bones, cartilage, and skin of the nose all make up the 'framework' that gives your nose it's shape. Any or all of them may conspire to cause your nose to 'shift' back to it's original form despite your surgeon's best efforts. This is one reason why crooked noses often 'shift' back over time after surgery. Hope this helps (BTW, this is also true of the septum during septoplasty).

The cartilage in the nose usually does not shift after the repair and straightening after a rhinoplasty. There is a small chance approximately 5 to 10% that a touchup procedure has to be done in order to realign the nasal pyramid after a rhinoplasty. Cartilage does occasionally have a memory to it, along with nasal bones wanting to heal crooked if it has been crooked for many years. This is why it is important to go to a very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who has performed thousands of rhinoplasty surgeries. Occasionally, one sided cartilaginous spreader grafts can be placed in the area to improve asymmetry and prevent a warpage of cartilage.

Hi Ray,
Your question can best be answered by your rhinoplasty surgeon who has examined your nose carefully and has formulated a diagnosis as to what is causing your crooked nose. In most cases, the nose is much straighter after surgery and stays that way.
If for some reason it is still crooked anytime one year following your surgery, then revision surgery may be performed. It is a good idea to discuss with your surgeon the possibility of revision, and what costs you will or will not be responsible for.
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P