A Single Teaching Hospital Experience With Absorbable LATERA Implant for Nasal Valve Collapse

Nasal valve collapse (NVC) is a common cause of nasal obstruction that significantly impairs quality of life (QoL), which is traditionally treated via functional rhinoplasty. There is, however, no consensus on the best management for NVC. This paper describes the experience of a single district centre using the LATERA implant (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) to treat NVC by evaluating its efficacy and safety. Complications and patient satisfaction were evaluated as secondary outcomes.

A prospective study was conducted between 2022 and 2025. Eligible adults were recruited to undergo LATERA implant placement. The primary outcome of efficacy and safety of the LATERA implant was evaluated via the change in the Functional Rhinoplasty Outcome Inventory-17 (FROI-17) scores from baseline to six months post-procedure.

A significant improvement in FROI-17 scores was observed in 90.9% (n=20) of patients, with a mean score decrease of 38.5 points (p<0.01). No major complications, such as infection or implant extrusion, were recorded.

The LATERA implant is a safe and effective intervention for NVC, showing a high success rate in significantly improving procedure-specific QoL in our single-centre study. These findings support its role as a valuable minimally invasive option, although further detailed comparative studies are warranted.