This prospective study aimed to analyze the nasal airflow resistances and a 3D evaluation of the soft-tissue changes after closed septorhinoplasty.
Before surgery (TO) and six months after closed septorhinoplasty (Tl), 30 patients underwent symptoms evaluation utilizing the Italian version of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale, endoscopic fiberoptic nasal examination, and visual analog scale for subjective assessment of nasal obstruction. Nasal airflow resistances were investigated with active anterior active rhinomanometry. A 3D laser scanner was used to evaluate facial soft-tissues with specific nasal points and angles.
Subjective nasal obstruction decreased. Anterior active rhinomanometry demonstrated a reduction in total inspiratory and expiratory resistances between T0 and T1 but without statistical significance. Facial laser scanning showed a statistically significant reduction of the superior nasal width and excellent alar angle and a weak negative correlation between the perfect alar angle and nasal resistances.
The study concluded that the absence of objective reduction of nasal airflow resistances could result from concurrent surgery on the nasal septum and nasal valve. In particular, the ameliorating effect on nasal airflow resistances is counterbalanced by the worsening impact of the nasal valve’s narrowing.
Reference: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.2500/ajra.2017.31.4459
