Using the Autospreaders as a Cutting Guide for Component Hump Reduction in Rhinoplasty.

Dorsal preservation techniques as a means of addressing the dorsal hump have been popularized recently to avoid midvault disruption or dorsal resection. The pitfall of these techniques is the higher rate of dorsal hump recurrence of up to 15%. We present the use of the upper lateral cartilages (ULCs) as a turn-in flap and as a cutting guide during classic dorsal hump takedown. The cutting guide provides the perfect dorsal angulation and dictates the amount of resection needed. This translates to aesthetically pleasing dorsal lines, avoidance of dorsal irregularities, and decreased risk of hump recurrence.

A Randomized Controlled Trial on Facial Muscle Therapy in Nasal Obstruction.

Background: Muscular exercises of the lateral nasal wall have been described as a potential treatment of nasal valve obstruction. The objective of this study was to compare whether nasal exercises improve nasal obstruction, using a randomized controlled model. Methods: Participants were randomized into groups performing exercises targeting nasal (group A) or facial (group B) muscles. Nasal obstruction was measured using a validated standardized patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) questionnaire (Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey [SCHNOS]) at enrolment and at the end of the 8 weeks program. Results: Fifty-six patients completed the study. Upon completion of the programs, a three-point SCHNOC-C score improvement (95% [confidence interval, CI] = [-9 to 2]) was seen in Group A, whereas an eight-point score improvement (95% [CI] = [-15 to -0.4]) was observed in Group B. A seven-point SCHNOS-O score difference (95% [CI] = [-13 to -1]) was observed in Group A, whereas a difference of 15 points was seen in Group B (95% [CI] = [-22 to -8]). No significant difference was found between group A and B (p = 0.373 and p = 0.065, respectively). Conclusion: This randomized controlled trial suggested that nasal muscle exercises show no improvement on nasal obstruction.

The anatomical basis for preserving the blood supply to the parathyroids during thyroid surgery, and a review of current technologic advances.

BACKGROUND: Devascularization of the parathyroid glands is generally accepted as the most common mechanism for iatrogenic hypocalcemia, a frequently seen complication of both total and completion thyroidectomy procedures. Much has been written about iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism, but few papers have precisely delineated the arterial supply of the parathyroid glands and the common anatomical variations that may impact parathyroid preservation during thyroid surgery. METHODS: We offer an illustrated review and discussion of the only two anatomic studies published in the medical literature focusing on parathyroid vasculature. In addition, we examine current techniques of parathyroid identification, preservation, and classification. FINDINGS: A surgical technique that preserves the parathyroid arteries is vital to preserving the viability of the parathyroid gland(s) during thyroid surgery. In 1907, Halsted and Evans described a technique of ligating the distal branches of the thyroid arteries beyond the origin of the parathyroid arteries, a technique termed ultra-ligation. In 1982, Flament et al.. reported three distinct anatomical variations of the parathyroid arteries which place the parathyroid blood supply at risk for devascularization during thyroid surgery. Our review also highlights novel techniques that aid surgeons in identification and assessment of the parathyroid glands. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of the variations of parathyroid anatomy and their potential to lead to devascularization aids thyroid surgeons in their pursuit of parathyroid preservation. An awareness of the variety of novel parathyroid identification and preservation techniques can assist surgeons to achieve this goal.

Evaluation and Management of the Nasal Airway.

Nasal airway obstruction is a very common phenomenon that can significantly decrease patients' quality of life. This review article summarizes in an evidence-based fashion the diagnosis and treatment of nasal airway obstruction. The nasal airway may be obstructed at the level of the nasal valve, septum, nasal turbinates, sinonasal mucosa, or nasopharynx. Nasal valve obstruction and septal deviations are usually treated surgically depending on the level of valve obstruction. Isolated turbinate hypertrophy is usually managed medically as part of the treatment of rhinitis, with surgery reserved for cases refractory to medical care. Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal conditions are treated according to the diagnosis.

What is the optimal outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis? A consultation of Canadian experts.

OBJECTIVES: Many experts feel that in the absence of well-defined goals for success, they have an easier time identifying failure. As success ought to not be defined only by absence of failure, we aimed to define optimal outcomes for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by obtaining expert surgeon perspectives. METHODS: A total of 12 surgeons participated in this targeted consultation. Face to face semi-structured interviews were performed with expert surgeons in the field of CRS and ESS. General impressions and personal definitions of acceptable operative success and optimal operative outcomes were compiled and summarized. RESULTS: According to an expert survey, patients' main objectives are an improvement in their chief complain, a general improvement in quality of life (QoL), and a better overall symptomatic control. The most important aspects of endoscopy for defining a successful intervention were an adequate mucus circulation, a healthy mucosa, minimal edema, and patency of all explored cavities or ostia. In the assessment of surgical outcomes, it was determined that both objective and patient reported data must be carefully examined, with more attention given to subjective outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: According to data gathered from a Canadian expert consultation, a definition of success must be based on both subjective data and nasal endoscopy. We propose to define an acceptable outcome as either a subjective improvement of at least the minimal clinically improvement difference of a validated patient reported outcome questionnaire, along with a satisfactory endoscopic result (1) or a complete subjective resolution with a sub-optimal endoscopy (2).

French Translation and Validation of the Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire.

Synkinesis is a distressing sequela of peripheral facial palsy (PFP). This study aimed to translate and validate the Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), a reliable patient-reported outcome evaluation tool for synkinesis, in French. The SAQ was translated following a standard forward-backward translation procedure. After a cognitive debriefing with 10 PFP patients, the SAQ-F was assessed amongst 50 patients for internal consistency, known-group validity, construct validity, criterion validity, and test-retest reliability. Results demonstrated that the SAQ-F was valid, reliable, and had a unidimensional structure. The SAQ-F should be accompanied by clinician-based scales, to provide valuable additional information on the severity of synkinesis.

North American survey and systematic review on caudal Septoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Surgical correction of caudal septal deviation is a technically challenging step of functional rhinoplasty. Multiple surgical techniques have been described in the literature but comparing the efficacy of each in relieving obstruction presents a challenge. Outcome measures are necessary to adequately compare techniques. This study aims to describe the current caudal septoplasty techniques of Otolaryngologists and Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons (FPRS), as well as their use of outcome measures, and to compare these practices with surgical trends described in the literature. METHODS: An online survey was sent to three Otolaryngology and FPRS associations in Canada and the United States. A systematic review was conducted on SCOPUS and PubMed to classify the caudal septoplasty techniques described in the literature and the outcome measurement tools used. RESULTS: Our survey identified that caudal septoplasty is more commonly performed by surgeons with an FPRS training background. The most common techniques were the swinging door technique (69.5%), extracorporeal septoplasy (46.7%), cartilage scoring (45.3%), and splinting with bone (25.4%). Despite using a vast array of surgical techniques, North American physicians rarely rely on standardized outcome assessment tools. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used almost twice as frequently in the literature as they are by surgeons in their clinical practice. CONCLUSION: We recommend that future studies of caudal septoplasty include an assessment of both form and function using a validated PROM such as the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey.

Effect of Nasal Steroids on Nasal Obstruction in Septal Deviation: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study sought to prospectively determine the effect of intranasal steroids versus placebo on nasal obstruction in septal deviation. Methods: This was a single-center randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial with crossover in which all study participants received 6 weeks of therapy with Nasacort (Chattem, Inc.) and with Ayr saline spray (B.F. Ascher). Participants were randomized to one of two groups with a 2-week washout period between drugs. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores were collected at baseline and after each study drug. A subset of patients subsequently underwent surgical intervention after both drugs and additional NOSE scores were collected postoperatively. Results: Forty-two patients completed both study drugs with NOSE scores collected. Thirty-two patients underwent surgery and postoperative NOSE scores were collected. There was no significant difference in baseline demographics between the groups. There was no significant difference in mean NOSE scores in either group from baseline to the completion of the first and second study drugs. There was no difference in the change in mean NOSE score from baseline to postsaline (-3.9) versus baseline to poststeroid (-5.8, p = 0.60). Surgery resulted in a significant change in NOSE score at all postoperative time points (mean of -50, range of -47.2 to -53.6). Conclusions: We found no significant effect of intranasal steroids on nasal obstruction as compared with placebo. Surgery, however, was associated with significant sustained improvement in nasal obstruction. These data suggest that in patients with nasal obstruction due to a fixed cause, medical therapy with intranasal steroids is unlikely to be beneficial.

French translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the BDDQ-AS for rhinoplasty patients.

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire-Aesthetic Surgery (BDDQ-AS) is a validated questionnaire that is used as a screening tool for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in aesthetic rhinoplasty patients. The BDDQ-AS questionnaire was translated from English to French according to international guidelines. Ten French-speaking rhinoplasty patients were interviewed in order to evaluate the understandability and acceptability of the translation and produce a final version. It was then administered to 165 consecutive patients. Psychometric properties were evaluated using item-reponse theory (IRT). Internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.90 (95% lower CL 0.88). While the discrimination abilities of all the items were good (over 2.0), their difficulty parameters were shifted towards greater severity of symptoms. That shift could also be observed in information function graph for the entire scale. In other words, the BDDQ-AS performed better in patients with more severe body dysmorphic symptoms. In conclusion, the BDDQ-AS was translated, adapted, and psychometrically validated for use in a French-speaking population.

Spanish Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) questionnaire is a new instrument that was developed to evaluate both functional and cosmetic components of rhinoplasty. It is a reliable, consistent, and validated patient-reported outcome measure that is not available in Spanish. METHODS: The SCHNOS questionnaire was forward translated, back translated, and culturally adapted following international guidelines. Its psychometric validity was tested with native Spanish speakers in 2 centers in Colombia. The authors measured internal consistency, correlation, and reproducibility to determine validity of the instrument. RESULTS: The final Spanish version of the SCHNOS was administered to 76 native Spanish speakers. Both the SCHNOS-O (obstructive domain) and SCHNOS-C (cosmetic domain) showed a high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha of 0.84 and 0.94, respectively. The Spearman correlations between the items of SCHNOS-O (0.38-0.82) and SCHNOS-C (0.49-0.88) were positive and significant. Spearman's rank correlation in the test-retest analysis for SCHNOS-O (r = 0.87) and SCHNOS-C (r = 90) was positive and statistically significant. There was statistical significance in responses obtained for SCHNOS-O (P < 0.001) but not for SCHNOS-C (P = 0.222). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the SCHNOS was successfully translated and culturally adapted into Spanish. The Spanish version of the SCHNOS was shown to be a reliable and valid instrument that we recommend it should be used in Spanish-speaking patients who are having functional or cosmetic rhinoplasty.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey.

BACKGROUND: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) has not been determined. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to define the MCID for both domains of the SCHNOS questionnaire. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included patients who underwent functional, cosmetic, or combined rhinoplasty operation from June 2017 to June 2018 at a tertiary referral center. The average preoperative, postoperative, and change in scores were calculated for the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale (NOSE) and SCHNOS. Anchor-based MCIDs were estimated for both SCHNOS subscales to define change in obstruction and cosmesis perceived after the rhinoplasty. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients (69% women, 31% males) with a mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of 38 years (14.7) at the time of surgery were included. The mean postoperative follow-up period (SD) was 145 days (117). The mean preoperative score (SD) for the NOSE was 52 (32), SCHNOS for nasal obstruction (SCHNOS-O) score was 55 (33), and SCHNOS for nasal cosmesis (SCHNOS-C) score was 50 (26) points. Postoperatively, the NOSE score was 23 (22), SCHNOS-O score was 24 (23), and SCHNOS-C score was 13 (18) points. The mean change in scores (SD) for NOSE, SCHNOS-O, and SCHNOS-C was -29 (37), -31 (38), and -37 (28), respectively. The calculated MCID for SCHNOS-O was 26 (16) and for SCHNOS-C was 22 (15) points. The MCID for NOSE was 24 (13) points. A sensitivity test for the patients with a follow-up ≥3 months showed only slightly different MCID estimates: 28 (17) for SCHNOS-O, 18 (13) for SCHNOS-C, and 24 (15) points for NOSE. CONCLUSIONS: For the obstruction domain SCHNOS-O, the MCID was 28 points. For the cosmetic domain SCHNOS-C, the MCID was 18 points.

Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the SCHNOS in French.

BACKGROUND: The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) is a validated questionnaire that assesses functional and aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty patients. There are 274 million French speakers worldwide, and this questionnaire is currently not available in French. The purpose of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate a French version of the SCHNOS questionnaire. METHODS: The SCHNOS questionnaire was translated from English to French according to international guidelines. Ten French-speaking rhinoplasty patients were interviewed in order to evaluate the understandability and acceptability of the translation and produce a final version. The final version was administered prospectively to 25 rhinoplasty patients and 25 controls at two-week intervals. It was then administered to 165 consecutive patients. Psychometric properties were evaluated using the Item Reponse Theory (IRT) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Three items from the original SCHNOS were modified to produce the French-SCHNOS (F-SCHNOS). Discrimination abilities of F-SCHNOS-O and F-SCHNOS-C were perfect, with values of 2.18(p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.74 to 2.62) for SCHNOS-O and 2.62(p < 0.001, 95% CI 2.03 to 3.21). Internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.93 for F-SCHNOS-O and 0.95 for F-SCHNOS-C. IRT showed good psychometric properties with almost each step up or down across the scale associating with meaningful differences in outcome severity. All four SCHNOS-O items were equally "important" in defining the total score. The F-SCHNOS-C total score was defined by mostly four out of six items. CONCLUSIONS: The SCHNOS was translated, adapted, and psychometrically validated for use in a French-speaking population.

Enhanced interdisciplinary communication: development of an interactive thyroid nodule/cancer disease map.

OBJECTIVES: Deficits related to inadequate clinical communication can result in incorrect diagnoses, inappropriate surgery, incorrect disease stratification, pathologic reporting, and/or interpretation. There are currently no validated or defined solutions to disease-specific communication with regard to thyroid care. METHODS: We propose a solution that could ameliorate problems arising from inadequate disease-specific communications between physicians through the development of a thyroid disease-specific database, the Thyroid Care Collaborative. RESULTS: To improve the quality of thyroid nodule and cancer care, we have developed an imaging module for enhanced reporting of ultrasound, cytologic, surgical, and pathologic details that are obtained during the workup and treatment of a patient. CONCLUSION: The main advantages of this disease-specific, dynamic, three-dimensional, anatomic disease map are: 1) portability across institutions and disciplines, 2) disease specificity to thyroid nodule and cancer care, and 3) ability to trigger more detailed evaluation or reconciliation of any change in a patient's status regarding the nature or the extent of a patient's disease. The first and second advantages above have been identified as areas representing opportunities for quality improvement in health informatics research. Laryngoscope, 129:269-274, 2019.

Association of Dorsal Reduction and Tip Rotation With Social Perception.

IMPORTANCE: Social perception by laypersons of people who have undergone rhinoplasty primarily for cosmetic purposes has not been fully described. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the social perception of patients who have undergone cosmetic rhinoplasty. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Preoperative images of 4 patients with dorsal hump and tip ptosis were selected using the Delphi method. Computer simulations of dorsal hump reduction and tip rotation, alone or in combination, were performed. Using the Qualtrics internet-based survey platform, laypersons blinded to the purpose of the study viewed randomized original and simulated images and estimated the age, approachability, perceived success, overall health, intelligence, and rated their attractiveness on a visual analog scale from 0 to 100. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Comparison of responses (mean [SD] score) for each of the 3 types of simulated image against the original image employing a pairwise comparison of means (Dunnett test). RESULTS: After excluding 27 (4%) invalid responses, a total of 813 respondents (593 women and 220 men) were included in the study. The mean (SD) age was 44.6 (16.2) years. A total of 628 (77%) respondents were white and the observed highest level of education was a bachelor's degree (193 [24%]) or having attended college but without a diploma (194 [24%]). A significant age reduction (31 [10] years; 95% CI, -2.5 to 0; P = .04) and an increase in approachability (64 [22]; 95% CI, 0.7-5.8; P = .009), attractiveness (60 [22]; 95% CI, 4.0-9.4; P < .001), and health (70 [19]; 95% CI, 0.7-5.2; P = .006) for the simulation involving hump reduction was observed. When combined simulation of dorsum and tip rotation were tested, only significant increases in attractiveness (60 [23]; 95% CI, 3.6-9.0; P < .001) and health (69 [19]; 95% CI, 0.1-4.6; P = .03) were seen. No significant association was found for any of the responses when the tip alone was rotated. The Wilks λ varied slightly below 1.0 showing significant P values (P < .05) for all variance and covariance (respondent particulars). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Though rhinoplasty procedures for nasal cosmesis involving both the nasal dorsum and tip were perceived to make a person more attractive and healthier, these results suggest that manipulation of the dorsum is more strongly associated with perception of the nose. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Risk Factors for Corrective Septorhinoplasty Associated With Initial Treatment of Isolated Nasal Fracture.

IMPORTANCE: Initial treatment of nasal fractures can result in long-standing cosmetic or functional defects, but the risk factors for subsequent septorhinoplasty have not been explored. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors for septorhinoplasty after the initial treatment of isolated nasal fracture. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective population-based analysis of US patients diagnosed with nasal fracture between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, used insurance claims data from the Commercial and Medicare Supplemental categories of the Truven Health MarketScan database. Of the 340 715 patients diagnosed with nasal fracture, 78 474 were included in the final study cohort, excluding those who did not meet enrollment criteria or were diagnosed with concomitant facial fracture. Patients were classified into 1 of 4 groups according to the type and timing of treatment. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Septorhinoplasty between 6 and 24 months after nasal fracture diagnosis. Explanatory variables included initial fracture treatment, demographics, comorbidities, and diagnoses associated with a preexisting nasal obstruction or defect. RESULTS: Most of the 78 474 patients were under 65 years of age (66 770 [85.1%]) and male (41 997 [53.5%]) and lived in an urban area (67 938 [86.6%]). Among patients with no preexisting diagnosis of nasal obstruction or defect, open treatment within 3 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.76; 95% CI, 1.33-2.32) of nasal fracture and between 3 weeks and 6 months (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.14-2.04) after fracture were associated with increased risk of subsequent septorhinoplasty. In patients with a diagnosis of preexisting nasal obstruction or defect, observation (aOR, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.80-4.53), closed reduction treatment (aOR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.93-4.96), and open treatment within 3 weeks (aOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.48-2.77) of fracture were all associated with increased risk of subsequent septorhinoplasty, with observation having the highest risk. Patients were also more likely to undergo subsequent septorhinoplasty if they were younger than 65 years, with the greatest risk seen in patients 18 to 34 years of age (aOR, 6.02; 95% CI, 4.26-8.50), lived in an urban area (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01-1.44), or had a history of anxiety (aOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.18-1.78), but less likely if they were male (aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.91). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study suggests that a preexisting diagnosis of nasal obstruction or defect and other aspects of a patient's history are factors to consider when assessing the likelihood of surgical revision of initial treatment of nasal fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.