Trophic defect of the ala nasi

Trophic defect of the ala nasi is a rare complication occurring in patients with trigeminal denervation following operation for trigeminal neuralgia and accidental surgical trauma, and less frequently in neurological, especially vascular disorders. The defect is characterised by typical clinical manifestations and histological features. A variety of therapeutic approaches have been proposed, but their efficacy has not yet been determined. Conservative prophylactic therapy, also employed in the three presented cases, has proved to be a fairly successfull treatment modality.