Nasal valve suspension revisited.

OBJECTIVES: Nasal valve suspension (NVS) is a simple technique to correct nasal valve obstruction or collapse by providing a lateral vector of pull on the nasal sidewall. The purpose of this research was to review our experience with NVS in a cohort of patients with nasal valve collapse, including a subset of patients with facial paralysis. The objectives were to determine patient satisfaction and complication rates after NVS.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of patients 18 years and older who had NVS from 2003 to 2006 with a follow-up of at least 1 month was performed.

METHODS: Data were collected on diagnosis, surgical outcomes, complications, and treatments required. Complications included adverse outcomes, infections, and the need for repeat surgery or treatments.

RESULTS: In 17 charts reviewed, 9 patients (53%) had nasal valve collapse as a result of facial paralysis, and 8 (47%) had previous nasal surgery. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 30 months, with a mean of 16.5. Moderate to complete resolution of obstruction was reported by 82% of patients, or for 88% of procedures. Sustained relief was observed in two of eight patients who had previous nasal surgery and six of nine who had no previous nasal surgery (P = .1). Infection occurred in four (24%) patients and five (21%) total suspensions and ranged from 1.5 to 7 months. Six (35%) patients experienced a loss of suspension at 6 to 22 months.

CONCLUSIONS: NVS is a technically straightforward, relatively reversible procedure particularly useful in the patient with facial paralysis. The efficacy is excellent in the short term yet appears to diminish with time.