Is the relationship between SNOT-22 and NOSE and mucociliary clearance time an appropriate assessment method for functional outcomes of septorhinoplasty?

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate subjective and objective results after septorhinoplasty and to investigate the correlations between NOSE and SNOT-22 scales and saccharin clearance test (SCT) results. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients (37 males, 63 females; mean age: 26.4±8.4 years; range, 18 to 56 years) with nasal septal surgery indication were included in the study between January 2017 and January 2019. A SCT was applied to all cases preoperatively and in the first postoperative month, and SNOT-22 and NOSE questionnaires were filled. Results: No relationship was detected when the relationship between preoperative SCT and NOSE and SNOT-22 scores was evaluated. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between preoperative SNOT-22 scores and postoperative SCT values in 26% of the cases (r=0.260). Similarly, if the preoperative NOSE and SNOT-22 scores of the cases are low, it should be expected that the SCT value measured at the first postoperative month will be low, with a probability of 28% and 26%, respectively. As the preoperative NOSE value of the patients increased, the SNOT-22 value increased by 57.9% and 27.6%, respectively. Similarly, as the postoperative NOSE values increased, the postoperative SNOT-22 values increased by 51.8%. A positive relationship was found in all these bilateral correlations. According to the results obtained, the NOSE and SNOT-22 scores were 93% accurate and 98% acceptable. Conclusion: Although the statistically significant relationship between SCT results in the postoperative period and SNOT-22 and NOSE is a remarkable finding, there is a need for future studies that also evaluate long-term results to make more precise comments on this issue.