A 24-month Evaluation of Stent Therapy for Nostril Stenosis

Shape alteration and nostril asymmetry have negative aesthetic and functional effects on nostril stenosis patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of stent therapy on the expansion of stenosed nostrils. Method: Patients referred from the Department of Plastic Surgery to the Department of Restorative Dentistry for nostril stenosis were evaluated. Four patients with congenital and one with acquired nostril stenosis were included in this study. The width of the normal and stenosed nostrils was measured and dimensions in millimetres were recorded before treatment. Acrylic resin stents were constructed from an impression of the affected nostril. The stents were made at a slightly larger diameter and repeated at regular intervals with gradual increase in diameter at consequent review visits. Data of the expansion of the stenosed nostrils and improvement in airway were recorded. Results: The patients were all males with an age range of 5 to 36 years old at the time of presentation. Six stenosed nostrils underwent tissue expansion using acrylic stents. Two nostril stents were used for treatment of stenosis following surgical nasal reconstruction and four for congenital nostril stenosis. There was improvement in nostril diameter with an average expansion of 7mm and this was stable at the desired diameter for an average of 10.8 months. The numbers of stents used to expand the tissues to the desired dimension ranged from 3-8 stents over an average period of 24 months. Conclusion: Nostril stent therapy is a conservative method to expand nostril tissues and has successfully maintained the nostril diameter for acquired and congenital nostril stenosis.