Closure of a Nasal Bridge Defect Using a Mandibular Bone Block

Authors

  • Ludwig Nafz Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Münster
  • Lisa Büter Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Münster
  • Fouad Khoury Private Dental Clinic Schloss Schellenstein, Am Schellenstein 1, D-59939, Olsberg
  • Susanne Jung Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Münster
  • Johannes Kleinheinz Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Münster

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17879/aods-2026-10059

Keywords:

Facial fractures, Reconstructive surgical procedures, Bone transplantation, Mandible, Autografts

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The surgical closure of pneumatized structures can be challenging due to formation of air fistulas in absence of a hard tissue base. The cortical bone block of the mandibular linea obliqua is an easy to harvest bone graft, commonly used in augmentation of the alveolar ridge. We present a case in which a traumatically caused defect of the nasal bridge was successfully closed after bony reconstruction using a retromolar elevated bone block.

CASE SUMMARY: A 69-year-old female patient presented with midfacial fractures along the Le Fort I plane on both sides, the nasal framework and the left nasoorbitoethmoideal complex with involvement of the orbital floor. Two weeks after initial reduction and osteosynthesis as well as closure of soft tissue damage along the nasal radix a penetrating defect into the nasal cavity was detected. In subsequent surgeries, the defect was successfully closed using a cortical bone block of the mandibular linea obliqua, showing a stable wound closure even ten months after surgery.

CONCLUSION: The mandibular bone block can not only be used to augment the alveolar ridge, but presents a viable alternative to treat hard tissue defects in the entire facial region.

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Published

01-09-2026

How to Cite

Nafz, L., Büter, L., Khoury, F., Jung, S., & Kleinheinz, J. (2026). Closure of a Nasal Bridge Defect Using a Mandibular Bone Block. Archive of Orofacial Data Science, 3. https://doi.org/10.17879/aods-2026-10059

Issue

Vol. 3 (2026)

Section

Research article

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ludwig Nafz, Lisa Büter, Fouad Khoury, Susanne Jung, Johannes Kleinheinz

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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