The Rhinoplasty Rosetta Stone: using Rasch analysis to create and validate crosswalks between the NOSE and SCHNOS functional subscale.

BACKGROUND: The NOSE and SCHNOS functional subscale are widely used PROMs to measure functional outcomes of rhinoplasty. However, as different instruments produce scores on different metrics, results of these instruments cannot be linked directly. This hinders comparing and aggregating rhinoplasty outcome data from practices using either instrument. The aim of this study was to develop and validate crosswalks between the NOSE and SCHNOS-O. METHODS: In a sample of 552 rhinoplasty patients who completed both instruments, the NOSE and SCHNOS-O scales were co-calibrated onto a common interval-scaled metric using Rasch analysis. Separate Rasch models were run per instrument and the latent constructs were estimated using the calibrated item parameters. By anchoring original PROM scores of both instruments to this Rasch computed measurement scale, the scores of both instruments were linked. A second independent sample was used to validate the created crosswalks. RESULTS: Total scores on the NOSE and SCHNOS-O were strongly correlated. The Rasch-based co-calibration of the NOSE and SCHNOS-O items resulted in a model that adequately fitted the data. Back-and-forth crosswalk tables were created from the NOSE to the SCHNOS-O. For patients with moderate nasal obstruction, predicted SCHNOS-O scores were slightly higher for a given level of the NOSE. Intraclass correlation coefficients between predicted and actual scores were 0.93 for both directions, indicating adequate agreement for group-level comparisons. CONCLUSION: This study developed and validated Rasch-based crosswalks from the NOSE to the SCHNOS-O and vice-versa. The provided crosswalks enhance comparison and harmonization of functional rhinoplasty outcomes.

A critical appraisal of perioperative sleep apnoea management after nasal surgery: A review of up-to-date literature supplemented by findings of a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To review the current recommendations on postoperative precautions for obstructive sleep apnoea patients undergoing elective nasal surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Anesthesiology/Intensive Care, University Teaching Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: The medical charts of 61 patients with sleep apnoea who were admitted to the post-anaesthesia care unit between 2016 and 2020, following nasal surgery were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of respiratory events during post-anaesthesia care unit admission that required medical intervention. RESULTS: In all 61 patients, continuous positive airway pressure could not be used. In 13 patients (8%), decreased oxygen saturation levels were registered during the first postoperative night, and in five of these patients, supplemental oxygen was needed. No other respiratory incidents of medical interventions were registered. CONCLUSIONS: The number of clinically relevant respiratory events of obstructive sleep apnoea patients with bilateral nasal packing following nasal surgery is low. We suggest that the safety of less expensive and less scarce alternatives of postoperative observation should be explored.

The Rhinoplasty Health Care Monitor: An Update on the Practical and Clinical Benefits after 10 Years of Prospective Outcome Measurements.

The era of value-based health care is characterized by an increasing interest in patient-reported health outcomes. For this purpose we developed the rhinoplasty health care monitor (RHM), a streamlined outcome measurement protocol, including all rhinoplasty patients since 2014. Statistical analyses of patient-reported outcome data are automated and visually presented on a custom web-based dashboard. We describe the clinical and practical benefits of the RHM and discuss how routine prospective outcome measurements have upgraded our care standards. For this prospective study, 979 consecutive patients referred for functional (revision) rhinoplasty from April 2014 to August 2023 were included. Preoperative and 3- and 12-month postoperative scores on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale (NOSE), Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ), and visual analog scales (VAS) were obtained. Of 979 referred patients, 599 (61.2%) were eligible for rhinoplasty. One year postoperatively, mean NOSE scale sum score improved from 69.1 ± 22.8 to 23.1 ± 23.5 (p < 0.001). Functional VAS scores improved from 4.1 ± 2.8 (left) and 4.1 ± 2.8 (right) to 7.5 ± 1.9 (left) and 7.3 ± 2.0 (right; p < 0.001). Mean UQ sum score improved from 12.0 ± 6.4 to 6.8 ± 3.3 and aesthetic VAS score improved from 4.5 ± 2.5 to 7.4 ± 1.7 (p < 0.001) 1 year postoperatively. Benefits of the outcome routine were improved patient selection, data-driven expectation management and patient empowerment, and targeted critical appraisals of surgical performance. In conclusion, routine, automated, prospective outcome monitoring provides physicians with a response to the increasing demand for data-driven insights in health outcomes. The limited effort that is needed to gather and monitor outcome data is heavily repaid by valuable insights into aspects of care that can be improved.

Triple Therapy Protocol for Primary and Secondary Auricular Keloids: A Prospective Outcome Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Ear keloid lesions present a significant challenge to the aesthetic surgeon. Keloids are known to recur and can cause severe cosmetic, functional, and psychological impairments. Several adjuvants to surgical removal have been promoted, with varying recurrence rates. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of triple therapy to treat secondary (and large primary) auricular keloids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with secondary or large primary auricular keloids undergoing triple therapy were prospectively studied. Keloids were excised intramarginally under magnification and repeated triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/mL injections were administered, followed by the application of a custom-made acrylate pressure device. Recurrent keloid formation and adverse events were monitored during a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Sixteen auricular keloid lesions (3 large primary and 13 secondary) were subjected to the proposed technique with a mean follow-up of 28 months. All cases that adhered to the protocol were free of keloid after triple therapy. Side effects were limited to 1 case of lobular atrophy and slight hypopigmentation. All patients were satisfied with the results. CONCLUSION: The triple therapy protocol is highly effective in primary and secondary auricular keloid as long as patients remain compliant.

Evaluation of Routine Ear, Nose, and Throat Screening in Heart Transplant Candidates: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage heart failure refractory to medication can be treated with a heart transplant (HTx). These patients are subjected to a preoperative screening procedure according to International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation guidelines. Additionally, in our hospital, a routine ear, nose, and throat (ENT) screening is performed, directed toward the identification of asymptomatic infections and head and neck neoplasms. There are no studies demonstrating that this screening has additional value in these patients. METHODS: To investigate the yield of protocolled ENT screening in candidates for HTx, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were subjected to the screening procedure between 2012 and 2020. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 251 patients of whom 177 (70.5%) were male with a median age of 52 years (IQR, 45-59 years). Ten patients (4.0%) were diagnosed with an infection (sinus) or a neoplasm, resulting in a number needed to screen of 25. In all cases, ENT consultation or sinus radiography did not influence the decision to list patients for HTx. Furthermore, no major ENT infections or occurrence of de novo head and neck malignant neoplasm were observed during follow-up after HTx. CONCLUSIONS: The clinically relevant yield of protocolled ENT screening in candidates for HTx is low. Based on these findings, we believe that only patients with abnormal findings on a routine sinus computed tomography scan and/or specific ENT complaints should be referred to an otorhinolaryngologist.

Functional and Aesthetic Outcomes of Septal Reconstructions: Results of a Prospective Longitudinal Outcome Study.

In order to correct severe septal deformities, complete septal reconstruction is often required to achieve the desired functional and aesthetic results. Several different techniques have been described. Systematic evaluation of the long-term results is crucial to assess and improve the quality of these surgical techniques. A custom-built dashboard (the rhinoplasty health care monitor [RHM]) was used for prospective and longitudinal outcome evaluation of the septal reconstruction. The RHM includes the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale for nasal obstruction and the Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ) for aesthetic outcome results. In total, 58 patients were included for septal reconstructive surgery. The mean preoperative NOSE scale scores decreased from 67.8 ± 19.1 to 12.2 ± 17.5, 1 year after surgery. Mean preoperative UQ scores went from 12.3 ± 6.4 to 6.2 ± 2.7. The beneficial functional and aesthetic effects of the techniques that we currently use to reconstruct the septum are efficient in terms of function and aesthetics.

Clinical Benefits of the Utrecht Questionnaire for Aesthetic Outcome Assessment in Rhinoplasty: An Update.

Presently, there is no consensus on which patient-reported outcome measurement (PROM) instrument is best suited to assess the aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty. In this regard, at least seven different validated PROMs are available from the literature, each one with advantages and disadvantages.In this article, we review the development, validation, international translation, and clinical application of the Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ). The UQ was developed in 2009 with the idea to be a short and practical tool for the rhinoplasty surgeon to assess the aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty. The questionnaire was then validated in 2013. Body image in relation to nasal appearance is quantified with five simple questions on a 5-point Likert scale and a Visual Analogue Scale score. We discuss how the UQ can easily be incorporated and become an important asset in a rhinoplasty practice. Practical benefits, such as its role in the shared decision-making process, patient expectations management, identification of unsuitable patients, avoiding revision surgery, and the evaluation of the surgeon's personal performance curve, are exemplified. Currently, the UQ has been translated and validated in four languages, providing scientific opportunities to generate and compare international data for advances in rhinoplasty. We describe some of the significant scientific contributions of leaders in the field of rhinoplasty that used the UQ.

The Rhinoplasty Health Care Monitor: Using Validated Questionnaires and a Web-Based Outcome Dashboard to Evaluate Personal Surgical Performance.

Background: Self-assessment provides valuable feedback in the life-long process of mastering rhinoplasty. This study presents a method to measure and evaluate data-based performance of a single surgeon using a web-based dashboard. Methods: In this prospective analytic cohort study, all patients referred to the senior author for functional-aesthetic (revision) rhinoplasty between April 2014 and September 2020 are included. Patients completed the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ), and visual analog scales before and after rhinoplasty. Questionnaire scores were exported to a customized web-based dashboard: the rhinoplasty health care monitor. Supported by real-time graphic output, this monitor automatically analyzes functional and aesthetic outcomes. Results: Of 603 referred patients, 363 were eligible for rhinoplasty. Mean NOSE scale scores decreased from 66.6 ± 23.5 to 23.2 ± 24.0 (p < 0.001), and mean UQ scores decreased from 12.2 ± 6.3 to 7.1 ± 3.9 (p < 0.001) 1 year after surgery. The rhinoplasty health care monitor visualizes numerous outcome parameters that help the surgeon to analyze results, identify learning needs, and detect trends in performance development. Conclusions: This automated outcome dashboard transparently measures individual surgeon performance. Gauging performance provides means to enhance surgical development and, consequently, patient satisfaction.

The Value of Averageness in Aesthetic Rhinoplasty: Humans Like Average Noses.

BACKGROUND: The aesthetic ideal of the nose eludes clear definition. Averageness may be an important determinant of ideal nasal shape: research has shown that averageness plays an important role in the human perception of facial attractiveness. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test whether an averaged nasal shape is attractive, and whether deviation away from average is associated with decreased attractiveness. METHODS: Photographic series of the face were obtained from 80 Caucasian female volunteers aged 25-40 years. A mathematically averaged composite image was created from the first 40 volunteers. Forty-one panel members were recruited to judge the attractiveness of the nose of each original image and the composite, based on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very ugly) to 5 (very pretty). Deviation of nasal shape from average was calculated by principal components analysis of standardized nasal landmarks. RESULTS: Twenty-one respondents were male (51%). The mean age of the respondents was 35.3 [15.6] years. The rating of the composite was significantly higher than the distribution of ratings for the 80 original nose images (4.2 vs 2.8, t = 31.24, P < 0.001). The rating of the original nose images correlated negatively with deviation from average shape (r = -0.40, n = 80, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In Caucasian females, a mathematically averaged nose is an attractive nose. Furthermore, the more an individual nose shape resembles the average shape, the more attractive it is rated. Calculating deviation from average before and after rhinoplasty may aid in objectively measuring aesthetic rhinoplasty outcome.

Evaluation of Measurement Properties of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures After Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review.

IMPORTANCE: The number of available rhinoplasty outcome measurement instruments has increased rapidly over the past years. A large heterogeneity of instruments of different quality now exists, causing difficulty in pooling and comparing outcome data. OBJECTIVE: To critically appraise, summarize, and compare the measurement properties of all patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that measure functional or aesthetic symptoms of patients undergoing rhinoplasty, using consensus-based methodology and guidelines. This facilitates an evidence-based recommendation on the most suitable instrument to measure rhinoplasty outcomes and identifies promising instruments worthy of further research. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A systematic literature search of Embase, Medline, and Web of Science was conducted from the databases' respective inception dates to May 18, 2018. Thirty-three articles evaluating 1 or more measurement properties of instruments measuring symptoms related to nasal breathing or satisfaction with nasal appearance in patients who had undergone septoplasty and/or rhinoplasty were included. Measurement properties were graded according to the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines for systematic reviews of PROMs. FINDINGS: The search strategy identified 33 studies that used 12 different measurement instruments. In general, high-quality studies on measurement properties of instruments measuring aesthetic and/or functional symptom-specific outcome of rhinoplasty are scarce. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale demonstrated high-quality evidence for sufficient structural validity, internal consistency, reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness, along with favorable interpretability and feasibility aspects, and was therefore selected as the most suitable instrument to measure functional outcome. Among instruments measuring aesthetic outcome, the FACE-Q and Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) aesthetic subscale are recommended for further study. Future studies on the measurement properties of the identified PROMs, in particular content validity studies, are necessary. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Three instruments with high potential for further use were identified in a systematic review of rhinoplasty outcome instruments using a standardized, consensus-based methodology: the NOSE, FACE-Q, and SCHNOS. These findings may contribute to standardized collection of outcome data in rhinoplasty.

Use of Routine Prospective Functional and Aesthetic Patient Satisfaction Measurements in Secondary Cleft Lip Rhinoplasty.

IMPORTANCE: Patients, governments, health care providers, and insurance companies show an increased interest in health outcomes, especially in centralized medical care, such as cleft lip nose treatment. Transparent outcome reporting requires a thorough methodological design, dedicated prospective data collection process, and, preferably, no interference with the efficacy of daily practice. OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation of an automated and prospective secondary cleft lip rhinoplasty outcome routine. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective analytic cohort pilot study was conducted among 123 consecutive patients referred for secondary cleft lip rhinoplasty from July 1, 2014, to March 31, 2018, at an academic teaching hospital. EXPOSURES: Secondary cleft lip rhinoplasty or revision. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Preoperative and 3- and 12-month postoperative scores on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale (range 0-100, lower scores indicate better outcome), Utrecht Questionnaire (range 0-100, lower scores indicate better outcome), and visual analog scales (range 0-10: 0, no obstruction; 10, completely blocked nose) were obtained. Data were exported for automated statistical outcome analysis that was supported by graphic output on a customized web-based dashboard. RESULTS: Of the 123 patients (68 male and 55 female; mean age, 23 years [range, 17-68 years]) included in the outcome routine, 103 patients (57 male and 46 female; mean age, 22 years [range, 17-50 years]) were eligible for surgery. The web-based dashboard provided demographic characteristics, reasons that surgery was not performed or indicated, and real-time, short- and long-term change in functional and aesthetic outcome after secondary cleft lip rhinoplasty. Among 66 patients with sufficient follow-up, mean (SD) Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation sum scores after rhinoplasty improved from 30.8 (27.6), which is comparable to a moderate problem, to 19.2 (22.2), which is comparable to a very mild problem (P < .001), and mean Utrecht Questionnaire sum scores decreased from 13.1 (5.6) to 7.1 (3.3) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Routine prospective outcome monitoring provides an evidence-based response to the increasing demand for transparency in health care. The web-based dashboard used during patient counseling, selection, and management of expectations has the potential to compare results of secondary cleft lip rhinoplasty between surgeons and institutions provided that the populations share similar characteristics. The administrative interference with a busy daily practice was limited. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Rhinoplasty-Do Patients and Surgeons See the Same? A Double-Blind Study with 100 Randomized Patients.

One of the key points of a successful rhinoplasty is communication between the patient and surgeon. The surgeon needs to get a clear understanding of the patient's motivation for surgery and expectations of the procedure. This information is mandatory in formulating an optimal surgical plan and managing realistic expectations of the procedures. Ideally, surgeons and patients see, discuss, and quantify the same nasal defects. In reality, the subjective nature of perceiving aesthetics can cause variability of inter-rating nasal appearance. Therefore, one might question how well surgeons understand their patients. Do they see what patients see? The aim of this study is to assess the level of agreement on the evaluation of nasal appearance between patients, surgeons, and nonphysicians observers, and try to find predictive factors that cause high interobserver variability. This prospective, observational, and cross-sectional study was performed on a total of 100 randomized patients undergoing rhinoplasty. All patients were photographed before surgery and asked to rate the appearance of their nose on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) with 0 indicating very ugly and 10 indicating very nice. Subsequently, the photographs of each patient were, independently, rated by two panels: one constituted by two rhinoplasty surgeons and the other by four nonmedical raters. Both panels included European raters from the north (The Netherlands) and south (Portugal). Data regarding age, gender, skin type, and major nasal deformity were also collected. The authors found that there is no statistical agreement between the aesthetical evaluation of the nose between patients and surgeons or patients and nonmedical raters. Based exclusively on the VAS for subjective evaluation of nasal appearance, the authors' findings show that surgeons and patients do not "see the same" and generally, the score attributed by the surgeon is more favorable (almost 1 point higher) than the auto-assessment's score. This is important to realize when communicating about nasal appearance before rhinoplasty.

Transparency in Functional Rhinoplasty: Benefits of Routine Prospective Outcome Measurements in a Tertiary Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: Patients, governments, health care providers, and insurance companies are increasingly interested in medical performance. Transparent outcome reporting requires a thorough methodologic design, dedicated prospective data collection process, and preferably no interference with the efficacy of daily practice. The primary aim of this article is to describe how these bottlenecks are tackled with an automated prospective rhinoplasty outcome routine. The secondary aim is to motivate others by describing practical benefits encountered during implementation. METHODS: Since April 2014, 269 consecutive patients referred for functional-aesthetic (revision) rhinoplasty were included. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale, the Utrecht Questionnaire, and visual analogue scales were offered to all patients before primary consultation and follow-up to translate the subjective burden of nasal problems and change herein following surgery, into data. These data were exported for real-time automated outcome analysis supported by graphic output through a customized Web-based dashboard. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-one patients proved eligible for rhinoplasty, of which 121 had sufficient follow-up. The dashboard provides an overview of demographic characteristics of different populations, reasons why rhinoplasties were not performed, and real-time short- and long-term change in functional and aesthetic outcome in both primary and revision cases. Practical benefits of the instruments used are presented and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Routine prospective outcome monitoring provides an evidence-based response to the increasing demand for transparency in health care. The dashboard proved valuable during patient counseling, patient selection, and management of expectations and has the potential to compare rhinoplasty results between surgeons and institutions, provided that the populations share similar characteristics. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Adaptation and validation of the Dutch version of the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale.

The nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale is a validated disease-specific, self-completed questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life related to nasal obstruction. The aim of this study was to validate the Dutch (NL-NOSE) questionnaire. A prospective instrument validation study was performed in a tertiary academic referral center. Guidelines for the cross-cultural adaptation process from the original English language scale into a Dutch language version were followed. Patients undergoing functional septoplasty or septorhinoplasty and asymptomatic controls completed the questionnaire both before and 3 months after surgery to test reliability and validity. Additionally, we explored the possibility to reduce the NOSE scale even further using graded response models. 129 patients and 50 controls were included. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.82) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.89) were good. The instrument showed excellent between-group discrimination (Mann-Whitney U = 85, p < 0.001) and high response sensitivity to change (Wilcoxon rank p < 0.001). The NL-NOSE correlated well with the score on a visual analog scale measuring the subjective sensation of nasal obstruction, with exception of item 4 (trouble sleeping). Item 4 provided the least information to the total scale and item 3 (trouble breathing through nose) the most, particularly in the postoperative group. The Dutch version of the NOSE (NL-NOSE) demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity. We recommend the use of the NL-NOSE as a validated instrument to measure subjective severity of nasal obstruction in Dutch adult patients.

Dorsal Onlay with Diced Homologous Processed Rib Cartilage Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Diced cartilage wrapped in fascia or modeled with tissue sealant has successfully been used as dorsal onlay grafts in rhinoplasty. The use of autologous material introduces the risk of donor site morbidity, and sometimes availability is limited. METHODS: We present a series of nine cases that were performed using diced irradiated homologous rib cartilage as an onlay graft. RESULTS: Good functional and cosmetic outcomes were achieved in all nine patients, and no significant resorption was seen after a mean follow-up of 20 months. CONCLUSION: Homologous diced cartilage grafts are an attractive and well-tolerated alternative. The use of diced homologous material does not seem to lead to significant resorption. These results must be reproduced in larger series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The Tongue-in-Groove Technique in Primary and Revision Rhinoplasty.

The tongue-in-groove (TIG) is a conservative but powerful surgical suture technique to control tip rotation and projection, to set an appropriate alar-columellar relationship, to straighten a caudal septal deviation, and to stabilize the nasal base. TIG is suitable in primary and most revision cases and is easily combined with other surgical techniques. Seventeen years after its popularization, the TIG technique is embedded in modern-day rhinoplasty literature and teaching material. This article describes indications and considerations during external primary and revision rhinoplasty, based on clinical experience and the available literature.