Secondary Rhinoplasty in Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity: A Longitudinal Assessment of Patient-Reported Satisfaction, Nasal Patency, and Olfactory Function.

Patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities (UCLND) suffer from both cosmetic deformities and functional impairments. While secondary rhinoplasty primarily targets aesthetic enhancement, its long-term effects on patient-reported function, particularly airway patency and olfactory function, are not well-documented. The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a longitudinal assessment of patient-reported satisfaction, nasal patency, and olfactory function following secondary rhinoplasty in patients with UCLND. This study included 144 patients who underwent secondary rhinoplasty of UCLND between February 2022 and November 2023. Nasal morphology and function were assessed using the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) scale, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for olfactory function. A total of 144 patients were followed for 6 months postoperatively, of whom 100 completed an additional follow-up at 12 months. Comparison between preoperative and 6-month postoperative outcomes revealed significant improvements in both ROE and olfactory VAS scores (both P<0.001), whereas the NOSE score showed no statistically significant change (P=0.83). At 12 months postoperatively, ROE and olfactory VAS scores remained significantly elevated compared with preoperative levels, and the NOSE score demonstrated a significant reduction (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.003, respectively). Secondary rhinoplasty for unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity has been shown to improve nasal satisfaction and subjective perception of nasal airway patency and olfactory sense. Notably, the improvement in patient-reported nasal patency appears to be a progressive and sustained process over time.