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Published on: January 17, 2018
Clinical outcomes for the surgical treatment of sinonasal headache
David H Harley1, Eric S Powitzky, James Duncavage
1Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Vanderbilt Bill Wikerson Center for Otolaryngology, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2559, USA.
Objective:
This study was designed to explore the changes in patient-relevant clinical outcomes in a selected group undergoing surgery for nasal septal and turbinate abnormalities. Study design Seventy-nine consecutive patients with headache and correctable anatomic nasal obstruction were seen at the study institution from March 1998 to May 2000. These patients were evaluated for changes in patient-relevant clinical outcomes measures after surgical correction of their anatomic abnormalities.
Results:
Seventy-one patients underwent surgical correction of nasal obstruction. More than half of these patients had contact points preoperatively. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the patient population with respect to 8 of the 10 clinical outcomes measures. Importantly, a decrease in the severity and frequency of headaches was noted after surgery, especially after the correction of contact points.
Conclusion:
The surgical correction of the septum and turbinates resulted in predictable improvement in headache and a majority of other important outcomes measures. Clinical significance Pain may improve after surgical correction of septal and turbinate abnormalities in a properly selected group.
