Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Inferior meatus augmentation by injection or implants is one of the treatments for empty-nose syndrome (ENS), but levels of evidence of efficacy are low. We present the technique and evaluate our experience. The primary objective was to analyze changes in Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item Questionnaire (ENS6Q) scores after treating patients with ENS by autologous fat injection. Secondary objectives were the analysis of the evolution of each of the six ENS6Q items and identification of complications. Eleven patients underwent a minimally invasive approach to limit nasal airflow using fat injection between March 2021 and December 2022.
RESULTS: Ten of the 11 patients showed a decrease in overall ENS6Q score (P=0.0058); 6 had a final ENS6Q score<11. Ten were satisfied with the procedure, but remained symptomatic. The procedure did not result in any complications.
CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results confirm the data in the literature suggesting that fat injection improves symptomatology in empty nose syndrome. However, like other minimally invasive approaches to limit nasal airflow, it does not eliminate all symptoms. These results need to be confirmed by studies on larger cohorts with longer follow-up, preferably in a multicenter setting.
RESULTS: Ten of the 11 patients showed a decrease in overall ENS6Q score (P=0.0058); 6 had a final ENS6Q score<11. Ten were satisfied with the procedure, but remained symptomatic. The procedure did not result in any complications.
CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results confirm the data in the literature suggesting that fat injection improves symptomatology in empty nose syndrome. However, like other minimally invasive approaches to limit nasal airflow, it does not eliminate all symptoms. These results need to be confirmed by studies on larger cohorts with longer follow-up, preferably in a multicenter setting.
摘要：
目的：通过注射或植入物增加下鼻道是治疗空鼻综合征（ENS）的方法之一，但疗效证据水平较低。我们介绍技术并评估我们的经验。主要目的是分析通过自体脂肪注射治疗ENS患者后空鼻综合征6项问卷（ENS6Q）评分的变化。次要目标是分析六个ENS6Q项目中每个项目的演变和并发症的识别。在2021年3月至2022年12月之间，有11名患者接受了微创方法，使用脂肪注射限制鼻腔气流。
结果：11例患者中有10例显示总体ENS6Q评分降低（P=0.0058）；6例最终ENS6Q评分<11。十个人对程序感到满意，但仍有症状。该程序没有导致任何并发症。
结论：这些令人鼓舞的结果证实了文献中的数据，表明脂肪注射可以改善空鼻综合征的症状学。然而,像其他限制鼻腔气流的微创方法一样，它不能消除所有症状。这些结果需要通过对更大的队列进行更长时间随访的研究来证实。最好是在多中心设置。
结果：11例患者中有10例显示总体ENS6Q评分降低（P=0.0058）；6例最终ENS6Q评分<11。十个人对程序感到满意，但仍有症状。该程序没有导致任何并发症。
结论：这些令人鼓舞的结果证实了文献中的数据，表明脂肪注射可以改善空鼻综合征的症状学。然而,像其他限制鼻腔气流的微创方法一样，它不能消除所有症状。这些结果需要通过对更大的队列进行更长时间随访的研究来证实。最好是在多中心设置。
