Analysis of Patient-Perceived Nasal Appearance Evaluations Following Functional Septorhinoplasty With Spreader Graft Placement.

Importance: Spreader grafts have been shown to improve nasal airway obstruction in patients with nasal valve dysfunction; however, their use has been limited by concerns over their aesthetic penalty of widening the nasal dorsum.

Objective: To evaluate the association of functional septorhinoplasty (FSRP) using spreader graft placement with patient satisfaction with nasal appearance postoperatively.

Design, setting, and participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a university-based tertiary care medical center. All participants were patients undergoing FSRP for the treatment of nasal obstruction who had spreader grafts placed between June 2016 and May 2018.

Exposures: The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and the FACE-Q Satisfaction With Nose, FACE-Q Satisfaction With Nostrils, and FACE-Q Social Functioning scales were administered to patients preoperatively and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Patient demographics, nasal history, and outcomes were analyzed.

Main outcomes and measures: Comparison of preoperative and postoperative NOSE and FACE-Q scores.

Results: A total of 154 patients (72 male [46.8%]) with mean (SD) age of 36.8 (15.4) years underwent FSRP with spreader graft placement. Mean (SD) last follow-up was 5.8 (4.1) months postoperatively (range, 2-12 months). Fifty-seven patients had 6 months follow-up, and 42 patients had at least 12 months of follow-up. At time of last follow-up, mean (SD) NOSE and FACE-Q Satisfaction With Nose, Satisfaction With Nostrils, and Social Functioning scores significantly improved from 62.7 (20.7) to 22.8 (21.0) (P < .001), 54.7 (22.2) to 76.2 (25.1) (P < .001), 59.4 (27.9) to 83.6 (24.8) (P < .001), and 73.6 (21.8) to 81.7 (21.9) (P < .001), respectively. When separated into those with only spreader grafts (n = 89) and those with spreader grafts plus other graft types (n = 65), there was no significant difference between score improvements in the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in final nasal appearance scores between patients undergoing functional vs dual functional and cosmetic FSRP.

Conclusions and relevance: Despite concerns that placement of spreader grafts for the treatment of nasal obstruction due to nasal valve dysfunction during FSRP may have a negative impact on nasal aesthetics, this study shows that both nasal obstruction and patient satisfaction with their nasal appearance were significantly improved following surgery.

Level of evidence: 3.