Open versus endoscopic septoplasty techniques: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Techniques
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Septal deviation affects a significant portion of the population, from 22% in newborns to 90% in adults.
• Surgical intervention, specifically septoplasty, is often considered for symptomatic relief.
• A debate exists regarding the comparative efficacy and safety of open versus endoscopic septoplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on septoplasty techniques.
• To provide pooled estimates comparing the efficacy and safety of open and endoscopic septoplasty.
• To evaluate outcomes for patients with symptomatic septal deviation.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.).
• Studies comparing open and endoscopic septoplasty for symptomatic septal deviation were included.
• Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers.

Main Results:

• Endoscopic septoplasty demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative symptoms, including nasal obstruction and headaches.
• The endoscopic approach was associated with significantly fewer complications.
• Included studies were assessed as having a moderate-to-high risk of bias.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic septoplasty may offer advantages over the open approach for treating septal deviation.
• The findings suggest potential benefits of the endoscopic technique.
• Caution is advised due to the limited quality of the included studies.