Role of nasal muscles in nasal valve collapse

Objective: This study was performed to determine the role of nasal muscle function in patients with dynamic or static nasal valve collapse by comparing the electromyographic activities of nasal muscles in healthy individuals.

Study design: Cross-sectional clinical study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Subjects and methods: Twenty adult patients with dynamic nasal valve collapse, 18 patients with unilateral static nasal valve stenosis (septum deviation), and 20 healthy adults were included in the study. The activity of their nasal muscles was measured by surface electromyography (EMG), and the results were compared for the patient and control groups.

Results: No abnormal finding was found in any of the nasal muscles of the control group. In the majority of patients with dynamic nasal valve pathology, statistically significant functional disorders were detected in the m dilator naris anterior and m nasalis transversalis muscles compared with the controls. During inspiration and expiration in patients with static nasal valve pathology, some revealed muscular abnormities during inspiration. Normal muscle activation was observed in all of the patients during expiration.

Conclusion: Determination of agents involved in pathologies of the nasal valve region is necessary for planning appropriate treatment. The role of nasal muscles in dynamic nasal valve pathologies, which has not been previously recognized, should be considered. A more effective and adequate solution for the nasal sidewalls than static pathologies should be considered in these patients by taking into account the muscular activity disorders detected by EMG at the stage of surgical treatment.