Nasal Reconstruction Using a Customized Three-Dimensional-Printed Stent for Congenital Arhinia: Three-Year Follow-up

Abstract

A male Mongolian child with a complete congenital absence of both nose and nasal passage had a poor survival prognosis due to respiratory distress. To enable his survival, a new nose capable of conferring respiratory function was constructed. Following reconstructive surgery, an absence of mucoepithelium in the nasal passage can lead to rhinostenosis. To avoid this complication, a custom-made nasal silicone stent was created using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in conjunction with the patient's computed tomography data. The stent was implanted for 2 months to maintain the shape and size of the nasal passage. At 2 months after stent implantation, the mucoepithelium tissue in the passage had successfully regenerated with no immune reaction. Three years after stent removal, respiratory function, nasal passage structure, and external nose shape were maintained without additional medical care. These results indicate the successful nasal reconstruction in an arhinia patient using a customized, 3D-printed nasal stent.