Surgical treatment for empty nose syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To detail empty nose syndrome (ENS), an iatrogenic disorder characterized by a patent airway but a subjective sense of poor nasal breathing, and to explore repair options for patients with ENS.


METHODS
A case series of 8 patients with ENS detailing symptoms before and after submucosal implantation of acellular dermis.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Subjects who were evaluated for abnormal nasal breathing and determined to have ENS. Patients were diagnosed as having ENS if they described characteristic symptoms, had evidence of prior nasal turbinate surgery, and their symptoms improved after they underwent a cotton test.


METHODS
Acellular dermis was implanted submucosally to simulate missing turbinate tissue.


METHODS
Symptoms and symptom scores for the 20-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test completed before and after the implantation were gathered.


RESULTS
A statistically significant improvement in symptom scores for the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test was noted (P < or = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Careful assessment allows reconstructive surgery through submucosal implantation of acellular dermis. Symptoms of patients with ENS can improve with surgical therapy.
Houser
Steven M
SM
MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA. shouser@metrohealth.org
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000209:etiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012086:Reoperation; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*
C440568:Alloderm; D003094:Collagen