This paper presents a series of three patients who were identified as having partial thickness involvement of the laryngotracheal complex secondary to invasive, well-differentiated thyroid cancer. These patients were managed with full thickness window resection and reconstruction using a composite nasal septal graft.

A review of the Princess Alexandra Hospital database (comprising prospectively collated data) was undertaken to identify patients who had undergone full thickness tracheal resection and reconstruction using a composite nasal septal graft; demographic, operative technique and survival outcome data were collated.

Three patients had a composite nasal septal graft performed for reconstruction of full thickness laryngotracheal defects following the excision of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. There were no cases of local recurrence after a minimum of 18 months' follow up.

This paper describes our surgical technique for reconstruction of these defects using a composite nasal septal graft. It also presents data on our three cases to date, in which the technique has been used safely. A discussion of the surgical management of locally invasive, well-differentiated thyroid cancer is provided.

Various techniques are used to maintain retraction of the skin flap during open-approach rhinoplasty.

This report aims to present the use of maxillofacial retractors in open-approach rhinoplasty, a previously undescribed technique.

Use of these retractors provides excellent exposure of the lower lateral cartilages for surgery of the nasal tip, as well as access for surgery on the upper lateral cartilages. This technique allows the surgeon and assistant to proceed with surgery without needing to maintain retraction with a hand-held instrument.