Various uses of the septum in rhinoplasty.

The nasal septum can be used with impunity to assist in cosmetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty if an L-shaped bridge with anterior prow is preserved or constructed to maintain normal support to the nose. The septum can serve, of course, as a reservoir of cartilage grafts. Under special conditions, it can spare mucosal and chondromucosal or even osteochondromucosal flaps to aid in the supply of lining and support in reconstructions. The L-shaped septal chondromucosal flap has been found of value in total distal reconstructions and is now offered as a possible adjunct in the correction of certain intact but congenitally flat and/or short noses.