Surgical access to the internal nasal valve.

Objectives: To measure the width of the nasal septum in the region of the internal nasal valve using radiographic images to support use of open septorhinoplasty for alteration of the internal nasal valve and to compare short-term patient satisfaction for open septorhinoplasty vs endonasal septoplasty.

Study Design: Radiographic study and chart review.

Methods: The width of the nasal septum at the level of the inferior turbinates and at the level of maximum septal thickness was measured on computed tomographic scans of 70 patients.