MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nasal valve collapse was established by documenting nasal obstruction from the medial deflection of the caudal border of the upper lateral cartilage that was relieved by the Cottle maneuver or by elevation of the valve with a Q-tip. Between 1999 and 2002, 40 consecutive patients with nasal valve collapse ranging in age from 21 to 80 years were selected for correction. Ten were postseptoplasty, 1 postrhinoplasty, and 12 had concurrent anterior septal deviation. Breathe-Rite strips had been unsuccessful. A 10 point subjective self-assessment scale was used to measure pre-and postoperative obstruction (score of 10 implied complete obstruction and 0 no obstruction)