Feasibility of distraction osteogenesis maxillary expansion in patients with persistent nasal obstruction after septoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Distraction osteogenesis maxillary expansion (DOME) is an emerging surgical concept for obstructive sleep apnea patients with a high-arched and narrow hard palate presenting with nasal obstruction. Herein we demonstrate the feasibility of DOME in the treatment of patients with persistent nasal obstruction after primary septoplasty.

METHODS: A total of 32 consecutive patients with persistent nasal obstruction after septoplasty who underwent DOME were enrolled in this study. The efficacy of DOME in treating persistent nasal obstruction in septoplasty failure patients was evaluated using the validated Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were performed to measure the change of nasal floor width after surgery.

RESULTS: NOSE score improved significantly from 13.62 ± 4.74 to 5.15 ± 3.50 (p < 0.001) after DOME. The postoperative CT scan showed a significant increase of the nasal floor width from 22.4 ± 4.21 to 28.06 ± 4.52 (p < 0.01). No patient had major complications such as wound infection, oronasal fistula, sinusitis, loss of incisor teeth, or malunion.

CONCLUSION: We found that DOME appears to improve persistent nasal obstruction after septoplasty in patients with a narrow and high-arched hard palate.