The Guastella-Mantovani septal-valve splint: an intranasal biplanar and multivectorial orthopedic device

History of intranasal splints

OBJECTIVE

Intranasal splints have long been utilised as a post-operative adjunct in septoplasty, intended to reduce the risk of adhesions and haematoma formation, and to maintain alignment during healing.

METHODS

A Medline literature review of the history and evolution of intranasal splint materials and designs was performed. Advantages and disadvantages of various splints are discussed.

RESULTS

Intranasal splints fashioned from X-ray film were first reported in 1955. Since then, a variety of materials have been utilised, including polyethylene coffee cup lids, samarium cobalt magnets and dental utility wax. Most contemporary splints are produced from silicon rubber or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). Designs have varied in thickness, flexibility, shape, absorption and the inclusion of built-in airway tubes. Future directions in splint materials and designs are discussed.

CONCLUSION

Intranasal splints have steadily evolved since 1955, with numerous novel innovations. Despite their simplicity, they play an important role in nasal surgery and will continue to evolve over time.

The dragonfly splint: a new disposable device designed to prevent both medial and lateral turbinate synechiae after sinonasal surgery

Periturbinal adhesions are among the most frequent and challenging complications of sinonasal surgery. Endonasal paraseptal splints have proved to be very efficient in preventing "medial synechiae," that is, adhesions located between the medial faces of the middle/inferior turbinates and the septum. However, none of these devices for guiding mucosal healing can prevent "lateral synechiae" (adhesions between the lateral face of the middle turbinate and the lateral nasal wall) inside the middle meatal cleft, which is a very critical area for the physiology of the anterior sinus system. For this reason, if followed by the formation of lateral synechiae, the surgical maneuvers used to treat sinus diseases could paradoxically become a cause of persistent functional impairment and lead to iatrogenic sinusitis or mucocele.We describe our preliminary experience with a new endonasal splint called "Dragonfly" (because of its shape), which has been designed to prevent both medial and lateral postsurgical synechiae. This device has a long lateral wing designed to separate the mucosal surfaces of the middle meatal/ethmoid cavities and prevent adhesions during the postoperative process of healing. The device must be kept in situ for 3 to 4 weeks to permit the re-epithelialization of the internal nasal surfaces. Our experience shows that the splints are well tolerated and highly efficient, preventing both medial and lateral synechiae in 100% of cases. A randomized controlled study has now been started to confirm these positive preliminary findings in a larger patient population.

Invasive fungal sinusitis: An effective combined treatment in five haematological patients

Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFR) is a life-threatening infection. Its onset is subtle and a late diagnosis leads to severe complications. Death may occur within a few weeks notwithstanding treatment. We describe a comprehensive pre- and post-operative approach to care for haematological patients with IFR. Five haematological patients with IFR were treated with systemic antifungal therapy and endoscopic surgical debridement of infected tissues, followed by amphotericin-B directly instilled in the sinuses by a new type of ethmoidal drainage. The IFR remitted in all cases; after 32 months of follow-up, three patients are still alive, and two have died of other causes. Two of the patients who experienced IFR progression to the brain at the IFR onset are still alive. The pharmacological and surgical approach with the post-operative local therapy by a new ethmoidal drainage system could support radical antifungal sinus treatment, thus improving the overall survival.

Nasal ciliary beat after insertion of septo-valvular splints

OBJECTIVE

At present, endonasal paraseptal splints are devices frequently employed in rhinosurgery. We evaluated the local tolerance of a newly shaped device, the Guastella/Mantovani splint (G/M-SVS), with respect to the physiological mechanism of mucociliary clearance.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

The study involved 20 patients who underwent septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty or other nasal surgical procedures. A sample of ciliated cells was obtained by nasal brushing and was examined ex vivo to determine the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and morphology, before and 15 days after surgery.

RESULTS

Before surgery the mean CBF was 10.87 Hz +/- 0.56 Hz and when splints were removed it was 10.25 Hz +/- 1.9 Hz. Morphological evaluation of the ciliary motion after surgery demonstrated a normal, coordinated beat.

CONCLUSIONS

The G/M-SVS does not appear to interfere with the physiological mechanism of mucociliary clearance since CBF remain within a normal range.

SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first study that demonstrates an optimal tolerability and safety of the septo-valvular splints on nasal mucosa.

Septal crossbar graft for the correction of the crooked nose

Surgical management of the crooked nose still constitutes a problem that is difficult to solve because of the possibility of recurrence and the risk of weakening the supporting structures. The authors propose an innovative surgical technique for the correction of this deformity that takes into account both aspects of the problem. The technique combines septoplasty by means of staggered intracartilaginous incisions with the original positioning of a unilateral spreader graft. Once realignment of the deviated cartilages is achieved, this cartilaginous stent, referred to as a "crossbar graft," makes it possible to keep the mobilized axis firmly in the correct position over time. This graft is also quite effective from a functional point of view in restoring the correct angle of the internal nasal valve. Moreover, the technique allows for the harmonization of the aesthetic line from the eyebrow to the tip-defining point on the concave side with the same line on the other side.