Effectiveness of Spreader Graft Versus Autospreader Flap in Reducing Nasal Air Resistance

The authors aimed to compare the functional outcomes of 2 different techniques, spreader graft and autospreader flap, by using them for nasal valve surgery in cadavers using acoustic rhinometry (AR).

Ten frozen cadavers who underwent nasal valve surgery between May 2017 and August 2018 were randomly divided into 2 groups. Spreader grafts were applied to 10 nasal valve regions in 1 group, while the autospreader flap method was used on the other 10 nasal valve regions. The effectiveness of the surgical techniques was evaluated utilizing AR.

We objectively evaluated the effect of surgery on nasal air resistance by comparing the preoperative and postoperative AR values (MCA1, MCA2, volume) in both the spreader graft and the autospreader flap groups. In addition, the differences in nasal potency gain after the application of both techniques were compared and the superiority of the 2 surgeries in terms of functional gains was evaluated. A statistically significant difference was observed in preoperative and postoperative MCA1, MCA2, and volume values in both the techniques and sides. The authors found more significant nasal valve opening for the spreader graft technique using acoustic rhinometric values when compared with the autospreader flap technique.

In both methods, the air resistance was observed to decrease objectively in the nasal valve region. Autospreader flaps increase the nasal valve angle without the need for additional cartilage tissue, and it could be an alternative to spreader grafts.