Abstract
BACKGROUND
Functional rhinoplasty (FRP) is used to improve nasal ventilation by correcting problems with the nasal valves. It has not been systematically reviewed on a large scale.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies evaluating nasal obstruction before and after functional rhinoplasty in patients with nasal valve problems.
RESULTS
A total of 57 cohorts from 43 studies involving 2024 patients were included in the current meta-analysis. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores indicated significant improvement in nasal obstruction at the 1-month follow-up (WMD = 38.12; 95% CI, 29.15-47.10; I2 = 83.6%; P = 0.00), 3-month follow-up (WMD = 48.40; 95% CI, 43.16-53.64; I2 = 69.1%; P = 0.00), 6-month follow-up (WMD = 44.35; 95% CI, 36.65-52.04; I2 = 96.6%; P = 0.00), 12-month follow-up (WMD=43.07; 95% CI, 26.56-59.58; I2 = 97.9%; P = 0.00), and the last follow-up (WMD = 46.90; 95% CI, 43.92-49.88; I2 = 95.9%; P = 0.00) with respect to the preoperative baseline. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores indicated a similar trend at the 1-month follow-up (WMD = 4.68; 95% CI, 3.79-5.57; I2 = 86.8%; P = 0.00), 3-month follow-up (WMD = 4.46; 95% CI, 3.19-5.74; I2 = 93.3%; P = 0.00), 6-month follow-up (WMD = 4.91; 95% CI, 4.04-5.78; I2 = 88%; P = 0.00) and last follow-up (WMD = 4.22; 95% CI, 3.12-5.32; I2 = 97.1%; P = 0.00). Nasal obstruction was obviously relieved through rhinomanometry (SMD=0.56; 95% CI, 0.27-0.84; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.00) but not through peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) (SMD=-1.51; 95% CI, -3.10 to 0.07; I2 = 98.9%; P = 0.09).
CONCLUSION
FRP may have a positive effect on nasal obstruction caused by nasal valve problems. Broader and well-designed studies are needed to shed more light on the relationships in this area.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III
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 .
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