Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Batten Grafts in Pediatric Caudal Septoplasty: A Prospective Observational

Ali A Alshehri1

  • 1Surgery Department, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia. aaalshehrie@nu.edu.sa.

PubMed

Insights

Batten grafts effectively improve nasal function in pediatric septoplasty for caudal septal deviation. This study found significant improvements in breathing and minimal complications, indicating a safe surgical option.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Rhinology

Background:

  • Caudal septal deviation can significantly impair nasal function in pediatric patients.
  • Surgical correction often requires cartilage grafting to restore septal support and nasal patency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using batten grafts in pediatric septoplasty for caudal septal deviation.
  • To assess the impact of batten grafts on nasal function and postoperative outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective analysis of 29 pediatric patients (aged 4+) undergoing septoplasty with batten grafts.
  • Nasal function assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores.
  • Follow-up conducted over a 6-month period.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvement in nasal function, with mean NOSE scores decreasing from 86.03 to 12.76 (p < 0.001).
  • VAS scores improved from 3 to 9 at 1 month and remained stable at 6 months (p < 0.001).
  • 75.9% of patients experienced no complications; minor adverse effects included crustation and residual deviation.

Conclusions:

  • Batten grafts are a safe and effective technique for pediatric caudal septoplasty, enhancing nasal airflow.
  • The procedure leads to substantial improvements in patient-reported nasal obstruction symptoms.
  • Further investigation is warranted regarding long-term effects on facial growth and aesthetics.
Abstract

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