Extracorporeal Septoplasty: Assessing Functional Outcomes Using the Validated Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Score over a 3-Year Period.

BACKGROUND: It is well recognized that the standard septoplasty approach, in patients with severe septal deformities, may be less than adequate to address all portions of the deviated septum. The extracorporeal septoplasty technique is an alternative to the other common approaches in these more severe cases. In this study, the authors investigate functional outcomes of the standard approach. The authors use the validated Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score, before and after surgery, to quantify symptom improvement and confirm the validity and usefulness of this method in treating severe septal deviation.

METHODS: A retrospective collection of clinical data was performed on all patients undergoing extracorporeal septoplasty in a 28-month period from January of 2010 through May of 2013. Fifty-five patients were identified. Demographic information, previous surgical history, and complication status were collected. The main outcome measured was functional outcome identified from preoperative and postoperative Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scores. Collaboration occurred with the study design and biostatistics center for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The median preoperative and postoperative Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scores were 14.5 (interquartile range, 11.0 to 16.0) and 3.0 (interquartile range, 1.0 to 5.0), respectively. The median change between preoperative and postoperative scores was a decrease of 9.0 (interquartile range, 25.0 to 47.5). It was a statistically significant difference with (p < 0.0001 (Wilcoxon signed rank test).

CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal septoplasty is an important surgical option for repair of the severely deviated nasal septum. This study shows significant improvements in functional outcomes following this procedure, as shown by notable improvements in the validated Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score after extracorporeal septoplasty surgery.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.