Abstract
Although not being the most frequent nasal septal deviations, those of the caudal septum account for many complaints. The correction of such defects has always been the subject of much controversy, and several different operative techniques have been described. AimTo assess the efficacy of a surgical technique for correcting caudal septal deviations. Materials and MethodsProspective study with preliminary reports of 10 patients who answered a standardized, specific questionnaire (the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, or NOSE), underwent acoustic rhinometry and had their noses photographed. Caudal deviations were then corrected through a surgical technique whereby the entire deviated portion is removed and a straight cartilage segment is placed between the medial crura of the alar cartilages, through a retrograde approach, to support the nasal tip. Sixty days after all patients were reassessed. ResultsAs for the NOSE questionnaire, mean pre-operative and post-operative scores were 82.39 and 7.39 respectively (p<0.001). Pre-operative acoustic rhinometry showed mean minimum crosssectional area (MCA) values of 0.352 and 0.431 cm2, whereas mean post-operative values were 0.657 and 0.711 cm2(p<0.0001). ConclusionsThe study results prove, both subjectively (patient satisfaction as measured with a standardized questionnaire) and objectively (acoustic rhinometry findings), that the proposed technique for correction of caudal septal deviation is safe and effective.
Highlights
Caudal or anterior nasal septum deviations, despite not being the most common type, cause much complaint, both obstructive as well as cosmetic to the nasal tip
The study results prove, both subjectively and objectively, that the proposed technique for correction of caudal septal deviation is safe and effective
Studies carried out by Grymer et al used pre and post-operative acoustic rhinometry measures to prove that the nasal obstruction impact caused by minimum anterior nasal septum deviations is much greater than the one caused by large posterior deviations[3]
Summary
Caudal or anterior nasal septum deviations, despite not being the most common type, cause much complaint, both obstructive as well as cosmetic to the nasal tip. Studies carried out by Grymer et al used pre and post-operative acoustic rhinometry measures to prove that the nasal obstruction impact caused by minimum anterior nasal septum deviations is much greater than the one caused by large posterior deviations[3]. Patients with this type of deviation were the ones who benefited the most from the surgical correction according to Dinis et al.,[4] in their analysis of long term patient satisfaction after septoplasty. These change the relation between the columella and the nostrils, causing significant defects on nasal tip position and symmetry[2]
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