Mapping thickness of nasal septal cartilage.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the thickness of the septal cartilage relating to septal advancement surgery. Fourteen Korean adult cadavers were used. A rectangular coordinate was used, with the x-axis horizontal on the maxillary crest and the y-axis a vertical right angle to the x-axis on the anterior nasal spine. The length and the height of the septal cartilages were divided evenly in 5 dimensions, and the thickness was measured of intersecting points of grating.The mean length and height of the cartilaginous septum was 3.31 +/- 0.53 and 2.99 +/- 0.47 cm, respectively. The thickness of the septal cartilage varied according to the site (0.74-3.03 mm). The thickest area was the septal base (0% of the septal height) anterior to the vomer (2.19-3.03 mm). The thinnest area (0.74-0. 97 mm) was just above the base area at 20% of the septal height. The anterior-inferior part of the site above the thinnest area was 1.03 to 1.22 mm in thickness and the superior-posterior part was 1.26 to 1.50 mm. The anterior-inferior part was thinner than the superior-posterior one.The thickness map of the nasal septum might be usefully applied in septal surgery, particularly in septal advancement.