The range of applications that can benefit from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis is quite literally breath taking. Take for instance a recent study that used CFD to analyze re-constructive surgery of a virtual nose, which could lead to improved nasal surgery.

Virtual Nose

The results cited in the research paper "Toward Personalized Nasal Surgery Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, May 13, 2011" found that:

"Post-surgery CFD analysis and all virtual surgery models predicted similar reductions in overall nasal resistance, as well as more balanced airflow distribution between sides, primarily in the middle region, when compared with the pre-surgery state. In contrast, virtual ITR [inferior turbinate reduction] alone produced little change in either nasal resistance or regional airflow allocation."

This means that using CFD allowed the surgeon in this virtual surgery to select the best procedure to perform a priori. Previously, presumably, there was not always an obvious choice as to which procedure would produce the best outcome.