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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jan;172(1):1-12.
doi: 10.1002/ohn.929. Epub 2024 Aug 10.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Management Options for Empty Nose Syndrome: A Proposed Management Algorithm

Salman Hussain  1 , Jafar Hayat  2 , Hamad Almhanedi  3 , Mohammad Alherz  4 , Mahmoud Ebrahim  3 , Ali Lari  5 , Andrew Thamboo  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Management Options for Empty Nose Syndrome: A Proposed Management Algorithm

Salman Hussain et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is an acquired condition characterized by paradoxical nasal obstruction and sensation of nasal dryness often accompanied by psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety, typically occurring after the loss of inferior turbinate tissue or volume in the setting of prior sinonasal surgery. This review aims to identify and evaluate the reported management options.

Data sources: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Review methods: The terms "empty nose syndrome" OR "atrophic rhinitis" were used in a systematic search of original articles since the year 1990, yielding 1432 individual studies. These were screened on the Covidence platform for inclusion if any intervention was reported for the treatment of ENS. A pooled analysis of standardized mean differences (SMDs) combined with a random effects model was employed to report outcomes in Empty Nose 6-Item Questionnaire (ENS6Q), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT), anxiety, and depression scores.

Results: A total of 35 articles were included, comprising 957 individual ENS patients. Surgical interventions mostly in the form of meatus augmentation implants accounted for 26 out of the 36 articles. The remaining ten articles included medical and psychological management options. SMD in SNOT, ENS6Q, anxiety, and depression scores were reported and demonstrated statistically significant improvements in follow-up periods of up to 1 year. All articles reported favorable outcomes following their chosen interventions.

Conclusion: There is a paucity of evidence on the management of ENS and an absence of randomized controlled trials. Surgical intervention appears to be the current mainstay of treatment, but there is a potential role for psychological and medical management.

Keywords: comorbidity; empty nose syndrome; nasal perception; psychogenic; turbinectomy.

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