Evidence-Based Medicine: The Role of Nasal Surgery in Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Nasal surgery performed for the management of obstructive sleep apnea includes septoplasty with and without inferior turbinate reduction and functional rhinoplasty. There is controversy over the effectiveness of these techniques in terms of their ability to decrease apnea-hypopnea index. However, it is fairly accepted that nasal surgery can improve sleep-related quality of life measures. This review focuses on the recently published evidence surrounding the role of nasal surgery in obstructive sleep apnea. Findings suggest that functional rhinoplasty may improve apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in patients with mild OSA. The effect of septoplasty on AHI is less consistent. Further studies are needed to better clarify the role for both septoplasty and functional rhinoplasty in the OSA treatment algorithm.