Evaluation and Management of Lateral Wall Insufficiency.

Abstract

Successful treatment of nasal airway obstruction depends on accurate diagnosis of the underlying etiology. Lateral wall insufficiency (LWI) is a common cause of obstructed nasal breathing and should be recognized and treated accordingly by the rhinoplasty surgeon. LWI refers to dynamic collapse of the lateral nasal sidewalls at the internal (zone 1) and external (zone 2) nasal valves. This article serves as an overview of the important aspects in evaluation and management of LWI.