Poly-Dioxanone (PDS) Plate for Reconstruction

PDS (poly-dioxanone) absorbable plates (Ethicon) have recently been approved by the FDA for septal and nasal reconstruction.

We present a case of a 1.2 cm left nasal ala defect following Mohs excision of basal cell carcinoma. A 0.5mm PDS plate was utilized as an alar rim support to re-create an outer curve of the ala. The plate maintains strength for at least 10 weeks and absorbs in 6 months. A 4mm width plate is placed to resist contraction of the healing flaps that starts at 2 weeks and continues up to 6 weeks. The plate is placed within soft tissue pockets anteriorly and posteriorly at the lowest portion of the defect at the alar rim.