Functional outcome of septoplasty

Abstract

Background Deviated nasal septum is the most common nasal deformity, and hence septoplasty is the most commonly performed procedure for nasal airway obstruction. Preoperative and postoperative alterations in nasal function and nasalance scores represent an interesting area of research. Purpose The purpose of this work was to assess the outcome of septoplasty from the functional point of view, regarding nasal obstruction and degree of resonance. Patients and methods This study included 20 patients with symptomatized septal deviation, confirmed by computed tomography scan. Preoperative and postoperative nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores were assessed, and preoperative and postoperative nasalance scores of nasal sentence and nasal sound and oral sentence and oral sound were measured by nasometry. Results On comparing preoperative and postoperative results, highly significant statistical differences were found in nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores (mean±SD=2.45±1.70 vs =18.95±0.76;P<0.001**), nasalance scores of nasal sentence and nasal sound (mean±SD=26.20±4.14 vs =51.28±2.96; P<0.001**), and oral sentence and oral sound (mean±SD=8.80±1.20 vs =10.50±0.83; P<0.001**). A negative significant correlation between preoperative and postoperative total nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores and nasalance scores of nasal sentence and nasal sound and oral sentence and oral sound was found. Conclusion Septoplasty improves the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores and degree of resonance.