Optimal time for intranasal splint removal after septoplasty: a prospective clinical study

To investigate the effect of intranasal splint removal time on patient comfort and possible complications after septoplasty. One hundred and nine patients who had septoplasty operations were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups. In the 1st group (n = 36), splints were removed on the 3rd day after septoplasty; in the 2nd group (n = 36), splints were removed on the 5th day; and in the 3rd group (n = 37), splints were removed on the 7th day. Pain and nasal fullness were evaluated with visual analog scale. Synechia, perforation, hematoma, infection and hemorrhage were recorded after the removal of the splints (postoperative 1, 8 and 24 weeks). For the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd groups, respectively, pain score was 1.96, 2.67, and 2.67; and nasal fullness score was 6.23, 6.04, and 5.48. Nasal synechia was detected in two patients in the 1st group and in one patient in the 2nd group. Early hemorrhage was detected in two patients in the 1st group and one patient in the 3rd group. Infection, septal perforation and hematoma were detected in three patients in the 1st group. There was no difference in hemorrhage, hematoma, synechia and perforation rates between the three groups. There are various opinions in the literature about the ideal removal time of intranasal tampons after septoplasty, but there is no consensus on this topic. Our study shows that removal time of intranasal splints has no effect on patient comfort or possible complications.