Saddle nose deformity is a nasal condition in which the bridge of the nose has collapsed. The support structure of the nose has become weakened until the skin sinks in, creating a 'saddle' appearance when viewed from the side. In patients with a saddle nose deformity, the middle of the bridge loses height and appears to be sunken in. As the tissue collapses into this space, it may cause the end of the nose to become upturned as the tissue is pulled back.
This deformity is also known as a boxer's nose or pug nose, and is usually caused by the loss of septal support. This may be caused by conditions such as congenital syphilis, leprosy, Polychondritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, cocaine use, facial trauma such as a blow to the nose, or a previous rhinoplasty surgery performed too aggressively.
A saddle nose can cause breathing difficulty by blocking the airways. Many patients also find it visually unattractive. This deformity is often correctable through surgery, which may be performed for cosmetic or structural reasons or a combination of the two.
Treatment of the saddle nose deformity involves surgery to reconstruct the bridge of the nose, filling in missing cartilage. This cartilage may be replaced by donor cartilage from elsewhere on the patient's own body, such as a rib, or cartilage taken from a cadaver, or by a synthetic implant. Once this implanted material replaces the missing natural tissues, the sunken area is filled in and the bridge of the nose appears taller and straighter.
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