Septoplasty: long-term evaluation of results

The goal of this study was to ascertain how accurately the surgeons' selection criteria for septoplasty, which largely relies on clinical judgement alone, is able to anticipate patients' long-term satisfaction.

A 10-year retrospective study was undertaken in a tertiary care otorhinolaryngology center.

All patients who underwent septoplasty at the same otorhinolaryngology department in the past 2 to 10 years were mailed a questionnaire to evaluate their perception of the procedure's results. Clinical files were reviewed to establish the initial type of septal deformity. Because some surgeons used rhinomanometry to support their decision to recommend surgery, its capability of predicting patients' satisfaction was simultaneously assessed.

Subjects with anterior septal deformities were shown to benefit the most from septoplasty. Selection of patients on clinical grounds alone does carry, however, a considerable risk of patient dissatisfaction with end results. Nevertheless, despite a very strong correlation between anterior septal deviations and increased nasal resistance, preoperative rhinomanometry data failed to prove useful in predicting the long-term surgical outcome.

Surgeons' appreciation of the types of septal deviation that do benefit from surgical correction falls short of desirable. Patients' satisfaction, however, did not improve if rhinomanometry was included in the preoperative evaluation.