Correlation between Improvement of Subjective Nasal Patency and Changes of Parameters Measured by Acoustic Rhinometry after Septoplasty and Outfracturing of Both Turbinates

Bae, Sung Hyun; Mo, Ji Hun; Chung, Young Jun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
There have been some studies performed to evaluate subjective and objective changes after septoplasty and of their correlation, but have reported contradicting results. In this light, this study attempted to evaluate subjective and objective postoperative changes and investigate whether there is any correlation between them.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
This study was performed prospectively in 48 patients who underwent septoplasty and outfracturing of both turbinates. The parameters of subjective nasal patency and acoustic rhinometry (AR) were measured before and after surgery. We evaluated these changes and determined if there exists a correlation between the changes of AR parameters and improvement of subjective nasal patency.
RESULTS
Minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume in the convex side of nasal cavity were significantly improved after the surgery (p<0.05). Subjective nasal patency and septal symmetry were also improved (p<0.05). There was a correlation between the changes of MCA and nasal volume in the convex side of nasal cavity with respect to the improvement of subjective nasal patency (p<0.05). However, the improvement of symmetry was not correlated with that of subjective nasal patency.
CONCLUSION
Both subjective nasal patency and AR parameters were improved after septoturbinoplasty. Changes of MCA and nasal volume in the convex side of nasal cavity well reflected the improvement of subjective nasal patency postoperatively, whereas the improvement of symmetry did not correlate with the improvement of subjective nasal patency.