gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: Rhinoplasty is an operation, which is performed predominantly for esthetic reasons. Very often, especially if it is done by a plastic surgeon, its impact on nasal function is underestimated.

Aim: To find out and analyze the most frequent etiologic and pathogenetic causes for impaired nasal breathing after rhinoplasty and the possible ways for their prevention on the basis of the secondary nasal operations performed by us.

Material and methods: Thirty four patients with post rhinoplasty nasal obstruction were examined. Clinical and functional methods for assessment of nasal breathing were applied.

Results: Decrease of minimal cross sectional areas and nasal volumes and increase of nasal resistance were found. The evaluation of nasal obstruction with visual analog scale showed 23.5% with severe nasal obstruction and 50% with moderate obstruction. The following pathological changes were found: 18 cases with deviated nasal septum; collapsed and deformed upper lateral cartilages in 15 cases; collapsed alar cartilages in 13 cases; narrowing of the pyriform aperture in 4 cases; scars and adhesions in 11 cases and hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate in 6 cases.

Conclusion: Based on the performed observations, recommendations for functional rhinoplasty are made.