Functional and Aesthetic Comparison of Surgical Nasal Reconstruction Versus Nasal Prosthesis (Epithesis) After Total or Subtotal Nasal Amputation (CERNAS)

June 29, 2026 updated by: Hôpital NOVO

Comparison of Epithesis and Surgical Nasal Reconstruction Using the SCHNOS Score

CERNAS is a prospective, multicenter, non-interventional study comparing the functional and aesthetic outcomes of two rehabilitation strategies after total or subtotal nasal amputation: surgical reconstruction (primarily paramedian forehead flap or free flap) versus nasal epithesis (prosthesis). Patients who have undergone either rehabilitation at least one year prior to enrolment will be invited to complete the validated French version of the SCHNOS (Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey) questionnaire. The study aims to provide an objective, patient-reported comparison of these two options to guide future clinical decision-making.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Total or subtotal nasal amputation - defined as loss of at least three nasal subunits, or two subunits including the dorsum - results in major aesthetic and functional consequences with a significant impact on quality of life and social reintegration. Currently, two main rehabilitation approaches exist: surgical reconstruction (paramedian forehead flap as the gold standard, or free flaps such as the radial forearm free flap for larger defects) and nasal epithesis (implant-retained or adhesive prosthesis).

The choice between these techniques is often guided by the surgeon's experience and patient preference, in the absence of clear consensus, as very few studies have directly compared both options using standardised, patient-reported outcome measures.

The primary objective of this study is to compare functional and aesthetic outcomes between surgical reconstruction and epithesis groups using the SCHNOS questionnaire validated in French. Secondary objectives include comparison of subgroups by complications, comorbidities, patient profile, and identification of patients who switched rehabilitation modality.

Eligible patients will be identified via medical records by investigators at each participating centre. Those meeting inclusion criteria will be contacted by phone and then sent the information letter and questionnaire by mail or email. They may complete the questionnaire in paper form or via the secure Microsoft Forms platform. Questionnaire data will be exported to a centralised, password-protected Excel database for statistical analysis.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • France
      • Caen, France, 14033
        • CHU de Caen
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Maxime HUMBERT, Doctor
      • Paris, France, 75010
        • Hôpital Lariboisière
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Benjamin VERILLAUD, Professor
      • Paris, France, 75014
        • Groupe Hospitalier Paris St Joseph
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Vincent BEDARIDA, Doctor
      • Pontoise, France
        • Hopital Novo
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Laureline DESABRES, Doctor

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patient who has undergone surgical or prosthetic nasal reconstruction following a total or subtotal nasal amputation.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 18 years or older
  • Patients who have undergone total or subtotal nasal amputation (defined as loss of at least three nasal subunits, or of two subunits including the dorsum) and who have been rehabilitated either by surgical reconstruction or by nasal epithesis for more than one year

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Ongoing tumour progression or tumour recurrence
  • Non-French-speaking patients
  • Patients under legal protection measures (guardianship, legal safeguarding, limited or full legal incapacity)
  • Patients unlikely to cooperate with the study (e.g. presenting with a psychiatric disorder)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Surgical Reconstruction
Patient who has had nasal reconstruction
Other: SCHNOS score
Total score on the validated French version of the SCHNOS (Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey) questionnaire, comparing surgical reconstruction versus epithesis groups after total or subtotal nasal amputation.
Nasal Epithesis
Patient who has had a nasal prosthesis
Other: SCHNOS score
Total score on the validated French version of the SCHNOS (Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey) questionnaire, comparing surgical reconstruction versus epithesis groups after total or subtotal nasal amputation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
SCHNOS total score
Time Frame: Single assessment at inclusion (at least 1 year after nasal reconstruction or epithesis placement)
Total score on the validated French version of the SCHNOS (Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey) questionnaire, comparing surgical reconstruction versus epithesis groups after total or subtotal nasal amputation.
Single assessment at inclusion (at least 1 year after nasal reconstruction or epithesis placement)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Subgroup comparison by complications and comorbidities
Time Frame: Single assessment at inclusion
Comparison of SCHNOS scores between subgroups defined by complications, comorbidities, and patient profile (age, sex, aetiology of amputation, treatment history).
Single assessment at inclusion
Description of Clinical Profiles
Time Frame: Single assessment at inclusion
Subgroup analysis of the profiles of patients who opted to change their rehabilitation treatment
Single assessment at inclusion
Benefit-risk balance of each rehabilitation technique
Time Frame: Single assessment at inclusion
Comparative analysis of each technique based on implementation modalities, time to rehabilitation, complications, and reversibility.
Single assessment at inclusion

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Hôpital NOVO

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Laureline DESABRES, Doctor, Hopital Novo
  • Principal Investigator: Benjamin VERILLAUD, Pr, Hôpital Lariboisière
  • Principal Investigator: Vincent BEDARIDA, Doctor, Groupe Hospitalier Paris St Joseph
  • Principal Investigator: Maxime HUMBERT, Doctor, University Hospital, Caen

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 2, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 29, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-A00866-45
  • CHRD0826 (Other Identifier: HOSPITAL NOVO)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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