Costal Cartilage Is a Superior Implant Material than Conchal Cartilage in the Treatment of Empty Nose Syndrome

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of endonasal microplasty in treating empty nose syndrome by comparing the use of costal and conchal cartilage implants to construct neoturbinates. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods A total of 31 patients who were diagnosed with empty nose syndrome and underwent endonasal microplasty with conchal cartilage (n = 17) or costal cartilage implants (n = 14) were included. Each patient’s clinico-demographic profile was reviewed to compare the conchal cartilage group and the costal cartilage groups. Pre- and postoperative Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-25) scores were also compared. Results Both groups showed a significant improvement in SNOT-25 scores following surgery (P < .05). The group who received costal cartilage implants demonstrated more significant improvements than the conchal cartilage group in terms of the mean difference between pre- and postoperative SNOT-25 scores (P = .023). Symptom outcomes related to depression demonstrated significant improvements in the conchal cartilage group (P < .05), while in the costal cartilage group, in addition to these 3 variables, 7 items related to functional problems also demonstrated significant improvements (P < .05). Conclusions Costal cartilage is a more useful material than conchal cartilage as implants for the treatment of empty nose syndrome patients.