Assessment of Columellar Widening with Columellar Strut Placement

Objective: The columellar strut is a frequently used technique to provide nasal tip support and projection that is commonly thought to increase columellar width. However, systematic review of the effect has not been reported in the literature. We report a quantitative evaluation of the effect of columellar strut placement on columellar width. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of changes in columellar width in base view photographs for patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty with columellar strut placement (n = 35) and the closely related septal extension graft (n = 9) and tongue-in-groove (n = 5) procedures at Mount Sinai Hospital between 2010 and 2017. The ratio of the columellar width to the intercanthal distance was used to standardize the results among patients. Comparisons were made at follow-up periods of <1 week, 2 to 4 weeks, 1 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, and >1 year of follow-up. Results: Forty-nine patients (41% female; average age of 43 ± 15 years) were reviewed. The columellar width showed a statistically significant increase for all follow-up date ranges with the exception of 1 week and 3 to 6 months post-operatively. At >1 year of post-operative follow-up, the mean increase in columellar width was 8.6% (95% CI, 2.6%-14.5%, P = .0098). No statistically significant differences were noted between open versus closed procedure for all followup visits after the 1 week followup, and no significant difference if a septocolumellar stitch was placed. Conclusions: A columellar strut was demonstrated to lead to an increase in columellar width. Though the effect was modest at a 8.6% increase, this is a potential cosmetic consideration for the surgeon employing its use to provide nasal tip support and projection.