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Scientific Oral Presentations

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Session: Scientific Oral Presentation 2 - Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery

The Impact of Septorhinoplasty on Work Productivity and Activity Impairment

Monday, October 13, 2025
9:42 AM - 9:48 AM EDT
Location: 137
Disclosure(s):
Kavita Bhatnagar, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Maeher R. Grewal, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

John J. Chi, MD, MPHS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

G. Nina N. Lu, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Patients with anatomic nasal obstruction experience reductions in work productivity, sleep quality, physical activity and overall energy. This study is to evaluate the effect of septorhinoplasty on work productivity and activity impairment.

Methods: Multi-institutional prospective cohort of four tertiary centers including adults undergoing functional septorhinoplasty. Symptoms of nasal obstruction were measured with the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) and Visual Analog Nasal Obstruction (VA-NO) scales. Work productivity and activity levels were measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP) survey. Surveys were administered pre-operatively and 3-6 months post-operatively. Data collection is ongoing, with a goal of 40 subjects per site. Pre- and post-operative results were compared with t-tests.

Results: Among 115 patients, the average age was 45. 66% had allergic rhinitis, 19% had chronic sinusitis, and 27% had obstructive sleep apnea. The average SCHNOS-O score was 73.9±18.6 and VA-NO was 5.7±3. 68.6% reported employment and missed an average of 1.2±3.7 hours of work per week due to problems associated with nasal obstruction. On average, patients rated workplace impairment due to nasal obstruction 3.3±3 and daily activity impairment 4.3±3 on a 10-point scale.

23 have undergone septorhinoplasty with improvement in SCHNOS-O (22.6±13.5 vs. 72.4±22.3, p< 0.001) and VA-NO scores (1.7±1.6 vs. 6.1±2.3, p< 0.001). The reduction in work hours missed was not statistically significant (0±0 vs. 4.2±11.3, p=0.131). However, significant post-operative improvements were seen in workplace impairment (1.1±2.0 vs. 3.5±2.7, p< 0.001) and daily activity impairment (1.3±1.9 vs. 3.8±2.4; p< 0.001).

Conclusions: Patients with moderate-severe nasal obstruction seeking septorhinoplasty report mild-moderate work impairment and moderate daily activity impairment as a direct result. Surgical correction of nasal obstruction improves both work impairment and daily activity impairment to minimal levels.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kavita Bhatnagar, MD

    Resident Physician
    Oregon Health & Science University
    Portland, OR, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • EP

    Ezra Pua, BA

    Oregon Health & Science University, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Murray J. Bartho, BS

    Medical Student
    Oregon Health & Science University
    Portland, OR, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Heather D. Merkouris, MS

    Medical Student
    University of Washington School of Medicine
    Seattle, WA, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • JR

    Javier Rincon, MD

    Washington University/B-JH/SLCH Consortium, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Maeher R. Grewal, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of Utah Health
    Salt Lake City, UT, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Sarah R. Akkina, MD

    Attending Physician
    University of Utah
    Salt Lake City, UT, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • John J. Chi, MD, MPHS

    Professor
    Washington University in St. Louis
    Saint Louis, MO, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • GL

    G. Nina N. Lu, MD

    Associate Professor
    University of Washington
    SEATTLE, WA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Myriam dM Loyo, MD, MCR

    Associate Professor
    Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
    Portland, OR, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.