Mechanical evaluation of linking methods for septal extension grafts

In aesthetic plastic surgery, nasal septal extension grafts are crucial for influencing nasal lengthening, tip projection, rotation, and overall shape. Establishing robust binding between the septal graft and cartilage is vital for achieving favorable surgical outcomes. This study evaluated three linking methods (overlapping, bilateral overlapping, and digitating types) for cartilage connection, aiming to identify the method with the highest structural stability. Using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to simulate soft and hard cartilage, mechanical properties were assessed through tension, compression, and bending tests. The digitating method showed superior structural stability in shear bending test, but no significant differences were observed for other loading types. The findings suggest that the pretension balance of sutures is more crucial than the choice of linking methods.