Comparison of Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Score Outcomes After Autologous Cartilage Grafts and Latera Nasal Implants.

OBJECTIVE

To compare quantitative Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores for ACG and Latera implants for nasal valve repair.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ACG or Latera placement between January 2016 through May 2019 by a single surgeon. Patients who had completed NOSE surveys pre- and post-operatively were identified and eligible for inclusion. Data regarding baseline demographic characteristics, adjunctive surgical procedures, NOSE scores at 1, 3, and 6-month post-operative visits, complications, and total operative time were collected. Unpaired t-tests and linear mixed models were performed to analyze differences between study groups.

RESULTS

There were 24 and 39 patients who underwent ACG and Latera, respectively, who met eligibility criteria. There were no differences in demographic characteristics or pre-operative baseline NOSE scores (ACG: 65.1 and Latera: 64.4;  = .92) between groups. Mean operative times were not significantly different between groups (ACG: 113 minutes and Latera: 102 minutes;  = .76). Within each group, NOSE scores were significantly improved at each post-operative visit compared to pre-operative baselines. Between groups, mean NOSE scores were lower at each post-operative visit for ACG compared to Latera (1-month ACG: 21.7 and Latera: 45.9,  = .002 ; 3-month ACG: 14.5 and Latera: 39.9,  = .034; 6-month ACG: 8.4 and Latera: 44.2,  = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Both ACG and Latera offer significant improvements in patient-reported nasal obstruction severity; however, ACG may yield more favorable subjective symptom scores.