Diagnosis and Treatment of Dynamic External Nasal Valve Collapse: Application of Alar Batten Graft and Alar Flaring Suture / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

In contrast to Caucasians, dynamic collapse of external nasal valve is not a common cause of nasal obstruction in Asians. Nevertheless, Asians with thin skin and weak nasal cartilages can have such problems. To diagnose these patients, visual inspection of external nose during forced inspiration is most important, which physicians frequently neglect. If dynamic collapse is suspected, physicians should locate the maximal site of collapse through modified cottle maneuver. The mainstay of treatment is proper reinforcement of main site of collapse with cartilage graft or various suture techniques. This article presents diagnosis and successful surgical treatments of two cases of dynamic external valve collapse with alar batten graft and alar flaring suture technique.