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Updated: May 17, 2026
Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation
Published on: June 20, 2018
Acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry and visual analogue scale before and after septal surgery: a prospective 10-year
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. lotta.haavisto@tyks.fi
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to compare rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry and subjective estimation of the nasal obstruction before and after septoplasty and to evaluate the long-term results of septal surgery.
Design:
Prospective long-term follow-up, before and after septoplasty.
Setting:
University tertiary-care hospital, referral centre.
Participants:
The study included 30 adult patients who were operated on because of septal deviation.
Main Outcome Measures:
Pre-operatively, acoustic rhinometry and active anterior rhinomanometry were performed on each subject after decongestion of the nose. A visual analogue scale for unilateral nasal obstruction was filled in by the patients. The measurements were repeated both 6 months and 10 years post-operatively.
Results:
A significant change in acoustic values was found during the long-term follow-up of 10 years. The mean minimal cross-sectional area on the more obstructive side was 0.35 cm(2) pre-operatively. Six months after operation, it was 0.52 cm(2), and 10 years after operation, it was 0.68 cm(2). The mean resistance fell from pre-operative 1.16 Pa/mL/s to 0.41 Pa/mL/s during the first 6 months, but rose again to 1.21 Pa/mL/s after 10 years. Despite a tendency of improvement, no statistically significant change was found between pre-operative and postoperative values in VAS. Six months after operation 69% of the patients were satisfied with the result, and after ten years the amount of satisfied patients was 83%.
Conclusions:
We found an increase in acoustic values, but an increase in nasal resistance in the long-term follow-up. Other factors than nasal area may have an impact on nasal resistance and the feeling of nasal obstruction. The small size on the sample interfered with the results.
