Since cartilage has memory what is best approach if caudal septal cartilage is extremely bent? Does it need to be replaced?

Question

Hello I have caudal septal deviation.. it's not the worst case ever but it seems to making my tip very ugly. My nasal tip cartilage on deviated side is being pushed down. I can see clearly septum is affecting it. Anywho in terms of bringing caudal septum to midline, what about memory of cartilage? Isn't it true if cartilage is very bended, things can be done in surgery but that doesn't mean it will remain straight due to memory? Do only suture techniques work if cartilage is very bended?

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

There are a variety of techniques to try to address the bend. It really depends on how the bend happened (were you born with it? trauma? how long have you had it?) in terms of how best to treat it. Sometimes it is bent like that because the cartilage is too tall, so just trimming it down will allow it to bounce/flex back into the right position. Sometimes it is because of its attachments to the other cartilages so by releasing those, it will bounce back. Yes, cartilage has memory - so sometimes those maneuvers are not enough. Some surgeons will score parts of the cartilage or use special suture techniques to try to hold it straight. Another option is putting something such as cartilage graft or PDS plate next to it so that way it is encouraged to heal straight despite its memory. Good luck!

Since cartilage has memory what is best approach if caudal septal cartilage is extremely bent? Does it need to be replaced?

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