LATERA® Nasal Implant

What is nasal airway obstruction?

Nasal airway obstruction is a condition in which the nasal passages are blocked and prevent a normal or comfortable amount of air from passing through the nose. Nasal airway obstruction affects more than 20 million Americans¹ and can occur because of a structural abnormality in the nose or because of inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages. With nasal breathing delivering approximately 70% of airflow to the lungs,² any blockage that limits airflow can cause significant quality-of-life consequences.³

What causes nasal airway obstruction?

Even a slight narrowing of the nasal valve can lead to significant reduction in airflow.^4-6 Structural blockages in 3 areas are common:

Septum: The cartilage wall between the nostrils can bend and block the nasal passage.
Turbinates: Ridges of bone and tissue inside the nose can limit airflow when enlarged.
Lateral (side) wall: Weak or excessively flexible upper/lower cartilage in the outer nasal wall may cause it to collapse inward when a person inhales.

Lateral wall collapse may equal or even exceed septal deviation as the prime cause of nasal airway obstruction.

Is lateral wall collapse contributing to your nasal airway obstruction?

To determine whether the lateral wall is contributing to your nasal airway obstruction, a number of approaches may be used. If your symptoms improve from a simple breathing test called the Cottle Test or from the use of nasal strips during normal activity and sleep, then you may benefit from support of the lateral nasal wall.

Try the Cottle Test

Place two fingertips on your cheeks, on the sides of your nose.
Gently press and pull outward to further open your nasal passage. While holding, breathe through your nose.

If your breathing improved, talk to an ENT specialist about options to support your lateral nasal cartilage, which may include the LATERA® implant.

Experience What It’s Like to Breathe Easier

If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to breathe through your nose, LATERA® may be able to help with little risk of changes to appearance.¹⁰ LATERA® is an absorbable nasal implant used to support the upper and lower cartilage inside the lateral (side) wall of your nose. Supporting the cartilage may reduce nasal airway obstruction symptoms and help you breathe better.^9,10 The implant is placed inside the nasal wall by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat [ENT] specialist).

A clinical study shows that LATERA patients demonstrate¹⁰:

Reduced nasal congestion, stuffiness, nasal blockage, or obstruction
Less trouble breathing through the nose and improved ability to get enough air through the nose during exercise or exertion
Less trouble sleeping

Am I a candidate for a LATERA® nasal implant?

The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) survey⁹ is an assessment tool designed to capture how your breathing symptoms are affecting your quality of life. Take the NOSE survey and schedule an appointment with one of our ENT specialists at Quincy Medical Group’s Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department to determine if LATERA® is right for you.

Schedule an Appointment with QMG’s ENT Department
Call (217) 222-6550, ext. 6900

The information provided is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding your condition and appropriate medical treatment. Individual symptoms, situations, and circumstances may vary.

Risks include temporary symptoms such as mild bruising and inflammation, awareness of the implant, and mild pain or irritation. Other risks related to the LATERA implant included discomfort, infection, reaction to material, and surgical implant removal.

To find out more about nasal obstruction, see the well-presented overviews by the experts at the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery and the American Rhinologic Society.

1. Value calculated based on 2014 US population estimate from US Census and World Bank data in conjunction with incidence numbers cited in: Stewart M, Ferguson BJ, Fromer L. Epidemiology and burden of nasal congestion. Intl J Gen Med.2010;3:37-45.

2. Crawford-Brown DJ. Theoretical and Mathematical Foundations of Human Health Risk Analysis. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1997:103.

3. Rhee JS, Poetker DM, Smith TL, Bustillo A, Burzynski M, Davis RE. Nasal valve surgery improves disease-specific quality of life. Laryngoscope. March 2005;115(3):437-440.

4. Wever CC. The nasal airway: a critical review. Facial Plast Surg. 2016;32:17-21.

5. Camacho M, Riaz M, Capasso R, et al. The effect of nasal surgery on continuous positive airway pressure device use and therapeutic treatment pressures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep. February 1, 2015;38(2):279-286.

6. Lin SJ, Danahey DG. Nasal aerodynamics. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/874822-overview. Updated May 14, 2015.

7. Constantian MB, Clardy RB. The relative importance of septal and nasal valvular surgery in correcting airway obstruction in primary and secondary rhinoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. July 1996;98(1):38-54.

8. Ricci E, Palonta F, Preti G, et al. Role of nasal valve in the surgically corrected nasal respiratory obstruction: evaluation through rhinomanometry. Am J Rhinol. September-October 2001;15(5):307-310.

9. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) survey is a quality of life survey supported by the AAO Consensus Statement. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: 162 STEWART et al February 2004.

10. San Nicoló M, Stelter K, Sadick H, Bas M, Berghaus A. Absorbable implant to treat nasal valve collapse. Facial Plast Surg. 2017;32:233-240.

11. 18-24 month data on file.

12. Data on file (TR-21076 Spirox NVC Experience). Individual patient results may vary and may include other procedures. Use of the LATERA device in conjunction with other procedures (such as septoplasty and/or turbinate reduction) has not been clinically evaluated. Patient satisfaction results may be attributed to LATERA with other procedures.