23/07/2026
THE CRURAL CANTILEVER TIP - NEW 3D TRIPOD DESIGN
👃The Critical Role of the Lateral Crus TAIL
The most vital technical maneuver in this protocol is the
➡️ **total release and mobilization of the lateral crus**, specifically extending to its TAIL.
➡️ **The Malign Torsion Point:** The TAIL of the lateral crus often acts as a pivot of “memory” and tension. If not fully released from the sesamoid complex, it becomes a **malign torsion point**, exerting tethering forces that can warp the graft construct, cause tip asymmetry, or lead to alar collapse post-operatively.
➡️ By suspending (cantilevered) the lateral crus into the **Delta Graft** rather than leaving it tethered to the sesamoid complex, we eliminate these unpredictable forces.
Principles of Success
1. **Eliminate Memory:** Complete mobilization is non-negotiable to prevent late-stage cartilage warping.
2. **Reposition, Avoid tension-heavy “new dome”; reposition the LLC as one unit.
3. **Contour Support:** Use articulated or floating (my favorites) alar rim grafts to ensure external valve stability.
👃 **Primary vs. Secondary Cases:**
In **primaries**, this approach establishes of stability. In **secondaries**, where the sesamoid area is often scarred or distorted, bypassing the original attachments via the Delta Graft cantilever is often the only way to restore symmetric lateral crural tension.
➡️ the Tent effect (we call the Umbrela effect) replaces completely the necessity of support in triangle without support (between lateral crus and floating alar rim grafts)
👌How are you managing the lateral crural tail in your secondary reconstructions?
📕 Published in FPSAM Journal
⚠️ This technical post is designed for surgical trainees and practitioners. It features detailed procedural steps and intraoperative photos that may be sensitive to non-medical viewers.