Functional Outcomes of Septal Extension Grafting in Aesthetic Rhinoplasty: A Cohort Analysis.

ABSTRACT

Background: Septal extension grafts (SEGs) are used widely in rhinoplasty as a means of controlling tip position. Grafts positioned in a side-to-side configuration may cause nasal airway obstruction. Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients undergoing cosmetic rhinoplasty. Patients undergoing SEG placement were grouped according to completion of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) or Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS). The latter has a cosmetic (C) and functional (O) domain. Each group was matched to a cohort that did not undergo SEG placement using criteria preoperative NOSE or SCHNOS-O score, age, and gender. Patient demographics and outcomes, including NOSE, SCHNOS, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores, were compared between SEG and no-SEG groups using univariate and multivariate analyses. If patients underwent placement of an SEG and complained of obstruction, the laterality of the graft in relation to the complaint was examined. Results: SEGs were placed in 79 patients, of whom 77 completed the NOSE survey and 37 completed the SCHNOS-O both pre- and postoperatively. These patients were matched to patients without SEGs. For both the SCHNOS and NOSE-matched cohorts, functional outcomes (NOSE, SCHNOS-O, and VAS-F) did not significantly differ between SEG and no-SEG groups. These findings were also observed when patients were stratified by cosmetic surgery alone versus combined functional and cosmetic surgery. On multivariate linear regression analysis, when accounting for intraoperative techniques, there was no difference in postoperative NOSE or SCHNOS-O outcomes between the SEG and no-SEG cohorts. Side of postoperative nasal obstruction did not correlate with side of SEG placement. Conclusion: SEGs, when used in a unilateral side-to-side configuration, yield excellent aesthetic results without compromising functional outcomes.