OBJECTIVETo study the pathogenesis, the diagnostic criterion and the surgical methods of congenital nasal ethmoidal sinus malformation with false triple nostrils appearance.

METHODSFrom Feb 1993 to Mar 2006, a total of 13 cases of rare congenital nasal deformity had been investigated in pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and the methods of operation. The concept of congenital nasal sinus was presented. In this series, one-stage rehabilitation was achieved by using compositive operation techniques, including excision of the sinus, reconstruction of the hatch of ethmoidal sinus, transplantation of the dorsal nasal musculoaponeurotic flap as well as the nasolabial fold flap and the reconstruction of the cartilage-muscle ring in the wing of the nose.

RESULTSThe symptom disappeared in all of the 13 cases with no morbidity. The symmetrical double sides were observed and the nasal figure was satisfied.

CONCLUSIONSBy using such compositive operation techniques, including excision of the sinus, reconstruction of the hatch of ethmoidal sinus in middle nasolabial, transplantation of the dorsal nasal musculoaponeurotic flap as well as the nasolabial fold flap and the reconstruction of the cartilage-muscle ring in the wing of the nose, one-stage rehabilitation could be reached. It was an ideal, safe and reliable method to cure this kind of rare congenital nasal deformity.