A systematic analysis of surgical interventions for the airway in the mature unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity: a single case study

PURPOSE

Individuals with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity (uCLND) often require rhinoplasty in adolescence to correct nasal obstruction. The intent of this study is to identify sites of greatest nasal obstruction and evaluate the effects of isolated and combinations of simulated surgical procedures on these sites using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

METHODS

Computed tomography imaging of an adolescent subject with uCLND was converted to an anatomically accurate three-dimensional nasal airway model. Initial analysis was performed to identify anatomic sites of obstruction based on CFD computed resistance values. Virtual surgery procedures corresponding to common uCLND surgical interventions were simulated. Resulting airspace models were then analyzed after conducting airflow and heat transfer simulations.

RESULTS

The preoperative model had 21 obstructed sites with a nasal resistance of 0.075 Pa s/mL. Following simulated surgical procedures with functional interventions alone and in combinations, the three virtual surgery models with most improved nasal airflow were inferior turbinate reduction (ITR) with posterior septoplasty (resistance = 0.054 Pa s/ml, reduction in 14 of 21 obstructed sites), ITR with anterior septoplasty (resistance = 0.058 Pa s/ml, reduction in 8 of 21 obstructed sites), and ITR with both anterior and posterior septoplasty (resistance = 0.052 Pa s/ml, reduction in 17 of 21 obstructed sites).

CONCLUSION

This study introduces a new technique for analysis of the impact of different simulated surgical interventions on uCLND-induced nasal obstruction. In this subject, simulated septoplasty with ITR on the non-cleft side provided maximal relief of nasal obstruction. The proposed technique can be further studied for possible utility in analyzing potential surgical interventions for optimal relief of nasal obstruction in patients with uCLND.