Supernumerary nostril: a rare congenital nasal deformity

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, ²Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

^&Corresponding author
Dawood Shehzad, Department of Internal Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

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Supernumerary nostril is a rare congenital abnormality resulting from atypical embryological development. It can occur solely or can be associated with other congenital malformations. It is exceedingly rare, with only a handful of cases reported in the literature. It often leads to a narrow cavity at the end, which opens into a nearby nasal cavity or can end blindly after a short length. A good reconstructive outcome depends on an early diagnosis and surgical treatment of the patient. We present a case of a 3-year-old child, brought in by his parents in Outpatient Department (OPD) of Plastic Surgery Department, Holy Family Hospital, Pakistan, with a complaint of the presence of an extra nostril in their child since birth. On examination, an accessory/supernumerary nostril was arising from the upper lateral aspect of the left nasal cavity. This was associated with hypoplasia of the left nasal cavity. No other congenital abnormalities were observed from the physical examination. Surgery is the only curative modality known and should be done early to obtain better reconstructive outcomes. The complete tract of accessory nostril was excised circumferentially, and the overlying skin was sutured. The patient had a good functional and cosmetic outcome.

Figure 1: supernumerary nostril