Characteristics and Outcomes of Septoplasty in Patients with Paradoxical Nasal Obstruction

Yang, Yeon Jun; Kim, Young Hwan; Kim, Hong Geun; Lee, Dong Jun; Mo, Ji Hun; Chung, Young Jun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcome of septoplasty in patients complaining of paradoxical nasal obstruction.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Medical records of 637 patients who underwent septoplasty from 2011 to 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred sixty-nine patients whose follow up periods were longer than 3 months were included. These patients were categorized into two groups, the experimental group (paradoxical nasal obstruction) and the control group. We analyzed the degree of nasal obstruction, the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 score, which is the sino-nasal outcome, and the minimal cross-sectional area in acoustic rhinometry. The effect of concurrent turbinoplasty was also evaluated.
RESULTS
Paradoxical nasal obstruction was found in 19 patients (11.2%). Compared to the control group, the degree of mucosal change (both concave and convex side) had no statistical significance. Although the degree of nasal obstruction and SNOT-22 scores were significantly improved after surgery in both groups (p<0.05), the values for the experimental group were slightly increased at 3 months of surgery after having been improved at one month of surgery. In contrast, those values improved steadily over time in the control group. The tendency of psychologic domain scores was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.021). The results of volume reductive turbinoplasty showed that it maintained the improved symptoms better when performed along with septoplasty.
CONCLUSION
Although septoplasty showed beneficial effects in patients with paradoxical nasal obstruction, the effect of septoplasty decreased over time. Concurrent volume reductive turbinate surgery maintained the effect of septoplasty in paradoxical nasal obstruction.