Liposuction and Plastic Surgery Information - Plastic Surgery can improve airway function

Plastic Surgery can improve airway function

Friday, 29 September 2006

A new study suggests that plastic surgery can improve airway function for patients with severe nasal obstructions. The study, conducted by Sam P. Most, M.D., formerly of the University of Washington School of Medicine's Cosmetic Surgery Center, and now at Stanford University, California, reports that functional rhinoplasty can significantly reduce the severity of nasal obstruction.

The nasal obstructions that may benefit from functional rhinoplasty include septal deviation, where the wall that separates the nasal passages is out of alignment, turbinate hypertrophy, where internal swellings block airflow, and valve insufficiency, caused by improper positioning or collapse of cartilage.

The study evaluated the outcome of 41 patients (27 men, 14 women, average age 41.5) suffering from severe nasal obstructions who underwent functional rhinoplasty. Patients were asked to return questionnaires which compared the severity of their nasal obstructions before and after the surgery using a score of zero to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe nasal obstructions.

The study found that the severity of nasal obstruction decreased significantly after functional rhinoplasty surgery, with the average score decreasing from 58.4 to 15.7 after 227 days.

"Functional rhinoplasty techniques are effective in improving nasal airway function as measured by a patient-based, disease-specific, quality-of-life instrument," Dr. Most concludes. "The specific techniques considered to treat nasal obstruction can be tailored to address the areas of concern, including septal deviation, internal or external valve collapse and turbinate hypertrophy."

Tags: academic study, rhinoplasty,