Patient-Perceived Nasal Appearance After Septorhinoplasty With Spreader Versus Extended Spreader Graft

Standard spreader grafts (SSGs) are commonly used in septorhinoplasty to treat internal nasal valve narrowing and have been shown to improve nasal airway obstruction. Extended spreader grafts (ESGs) have also been proven effective for correcting nasal deviation. To date, the effectiveness of ESGs using patient-reported outcome measures has not been demonstrated, and results of ESGs have not been compared to SSGs. This study aims to assess satisfaction and nasal appearance in patients who have undergone septorhinoplasty with SSG versus ESG.

Prospective cohort study.

Five hundred sixty-eight patients who underwent septorhinoplasty with SSGs and 126 patients who underwent septorhinoplasty with ESGs between 2012 and 2018 were administered the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and FACE-Q Satisfaction With Nose, FACE-Q Satisfaction With Nostrils, and FACE-Q Social Functioning scales pre- and postoperatively. Pre- and postoperative NOSE and FACE-Q scores, negative inspiratory force (NIF), and changes in these values were compared between groups.

Results demonstrated clinically and statistically significant improvement at follow-up for both groups. There was no significant difference between the SSG and ESG groups in mean improvement of NOSE scores, FACE-Q scores, and NIF at follow-up of 6 months and at 12 months.

This study demonstrates that SSGs and ESGs both provide clinically and statistically significant improvement, and no significant difference in functional outcome. Both techniques can be effective. The etiology of the nasal obstruction and/or deformity should be considered when deciding which type of spreader graft to use.

3 Laryngoscope, 131:765-772, 2021.