Fabricating a partial nasal prosthesis with a custom nasal dilator design

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Partial rhinectomy surgery can preserve nasal structures but may lead to fibrosis and scar formation.
• Tissue distortion post-surgery can result in nasal airway obstruction, impacting patient quality of life.
• Existing solutions may not adequately address functional and aesthetic deficits after limited partial rhinectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and fabricate a custom flexible internal nasal dilator for patients with partial rhinectomy.
• To improve both the functional (airway) and aesthetic outcomes following nasal reconstruction.
• To enhance the quality of life for patients experiencing nasal airway obstruction post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing physical expansion of the affected nostril during the impression process.
• Employing digital technology for the precise design of a custom internal nasal dilator.
• Fabricating the prosthesis using medical-grade silicone for flexibility and biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• The custom flexible internal nasal dilator effectively maintained the nasal airway.
• The prosthesis addressed tissue distortion caused by fibrosis and scarring.
• Patients reported improvements in both nasal function and aesthetic appearance.

Conclusions:

• A custom flexible internal nasal dilator is an effective partial nasal prosthesis for airway maintenance.
• This digital fabrication approach offers a patient-specific solution for post-rhinectomy nasal reconstruction.
• The developed prosthesis significantly enhances quality of life by restoring nasal aesthetics and function.