Revision of the Functionally Devastated Nasal Airway

Abstract

Functional rhinoplasty can be especially challenging in a patient who has had previous surgery, trauma, anatomic abnormalities, or systemic disease affecting the nasal mucosa. A thorough analysis of the type and location of the obstruction is critical, and only after identifying the precise anatomic cause of the problem can surgical planning begin. Scarring, altered anatomy, and disrupted tissue planes all complicate this process. Structural support and nasal mucosa often require augmentation with autogenous grafts from the ear, rib, or other portions of the nasal cavity. Attention to nasal support mechanisms, the internal and external nasal valves, and internal lining during primary surgery may help to avoid future complications. Through careful analysis and planning, proper function may be restored to a functionally devastated nasal airway.