Objective
To create a clinical consensus statement to address ambiguities and disparities in the diagnosis and management of nasal valve compromise (NVC).
Methods
An updated systematic review of the literature was conducted. In addition, a Modified Delphi Method was used to refine expert opinion and facilitate a consensus position.
Results
After two rounds of surveys and conference calls, thirty six items reached consensus, six items reached near consensus, and ten items reached no consensus. The categories that had the greatest percentage of consensus or near consensus items were: definition, history and physical examination, outcome measures, and management. Conversely, the categories with greater percentage of no consensus items were: adjunctive tests and coding.
Conclusions
The consensus panel agreed that NVC is a distinct clinical entity that is best evaluated with history and physical exam findings. Endoscopy and photography are useful but not routinely indicated, while radiographic studies are not useful in evaluating NVC. Other objective nasal outcome measures may not be useful or accepted for NVC. Nasal steroid medication is not useful for treating NVC in the absence of rhinitis, and mechanical treatments may be useful in selected patients. Surgical treatment is the primary mode of treatment of NVC, but bill coding remains ambiguous and confusing.
A significant number of patients who undergo revision septoplasty also have nasal valve collapse. We recommend that in addition to septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve function be fully evaluated before performing septoplasty. This will help to ensure a complete understanding of a patient's nasal airway obstruction and, consequently, appropriate and effective surgical intervention.
Objectives/Hypothesis
Advances in bone repair have focused on the minimally-invasive delivery of tissue-engineered bone (TEB). A promising injectable biopolymer of chitosan and inorganic phosphates was seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and a bone growth factor (BMP-2), and evaluated in a rat calvarial critical size defect (CSD). Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled MSCs are used to evaluate patterns of cell viability and proliferation.
Study Design
Prospective, controlled trial in an animal model.
Methods
In 30 male rats, 8-mm calvarial CSDs were created, and divided into five groups of six animals each. In the experimental groups, the defects were injected with either chitosan gel, gel loaded with MSCs (0.3 × 106 cells/defect), gel loaded with BMP-2 (2 µg/defect), or gel loaded with both MSC and BMP-2. In the control group, the defect was left untreated. At 4 weeks, in vivo microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis was performed. At 8 weeks, calvarial specimens were examined by micro-CT, histology, and immunohistochemistry.
Results
New areas of bone growth were seen in the defects of all treated animals. Micro-CT analysis revealed a significant (P < .001) time-dependent increase in the regeneration of bone volume and bone area in defects treated with gel/MSC/BMP-2 as compared to all other groups. Histological analysis confirmed this difference. GFP–labeled TEB was detected within the areas of new bone, indicating cell viability and contribution to new bone growth by the injected MSC.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that an injectable form of TEB using a chitosan gel, MSC, and BMP-2 can enhance bone formation in a rat calvarial CSD.
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