Objective Assessment of Postoperative Outcomes in Endonasal Spreader Grafts

Abstract

Objectives: Use acoustic rhinometry to objectively measure the functional outcomes of endonasal spreader grafts in patients undergoing surgical correction of internal nasal valve collapse. Methods: Eighteen adult patients undergoing open septoplasty with unilateral or bilateral endonasal spreader graft placement were recruited. Patients were asked to undergo preoperative and postoperative acoustic rhinometry to measure changes in cross-sectional area of the internal nasal valve. Postoperative subjective nasal symptoms as measured by SNOT-22 and NOSE scores were also compared to preoperative values. Results: Patients undergoing septoplasty with endonasal spreader graft placement had a statistically significant increase in the cross-sectional area of the internal nasal valve ( P < .05). This was concomitant with mild improvement in SNOT-22 and NOSE scores postoperatively ( P < .05). Conclusions: This study provides objective evidence of an increase in internal nasal valve area after placement of endonasal cartilage spreader grafts in combination with septoplasty.