Our Summary

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct a deviated nasal septum that causes nasal obstruction or difficulty in breathing. However, it’s not very clear how effective this procedure is in the long run. This review was done to understand the long-term effectiveness of septoplasty, either alone or when combined with another operation called turbinate modification.

To do this, researchers looked at multiple studies from major databases. They only focused on studies where people had this operation because of nasal obstruction and were followed up more than a year after the surgery. They didn’t consider cases where the operation was done for other reasons, or where other surgeries were conducted at the same time, or where the patients were children.

In total, they looked at 35 studies involving 4,432 patients. On average, the patients were followed up for about 29 months after the surgery, although the range was from 12 to 120 months.

The results showed that all of the studies reported a significant improvement in patients’ conditions, both based on what the patients felt (subjective outcomes) and what was medically observed (objective outcomes). However, four studies pointed out that the patients felt a slight worsening of their conditions over time, though no study found any significant change in the medical observations over time.

In addition, 23 of the studies asked patients about their satisfaction or improvement after the surgery. About 75% of the patients were satisfied or felt improvement, on average about 27 months after the surgery.

In conclusion, the review found that septoplasty, whether done alone or with turbinate modification, does significantly improve the symptoms of nasal obstruction in the long term. However, it’s still not clear if the outcomes might slightly worsen over time, as the results were mixed.

FAQs

  1. What is the long-term efficacy of septoplasty with or without turbinate modification in improving nasal obstruction?
  2. What is the average patient satisfaction rate after undergoing septoplasty with or without turbinate modification?
  3. Do outcomes of septoplasty with or without turbinate modification worsen over time?

Doctor’s Tip

A helpful tip a doctor might tell a patient about septoplasty is to follow post-operative care instructions carefully, including keeping the nasal passages moist with saline spray or a humidifier, avoiding strenuous activities, and attending follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing and optimal long-term outcomes.

Suitable For

Patients who are typically recommended septoplasty are those who have nasal obstruction due to nasal septum deviation. This procedure is aimed at improving obstructive symptoms and can be performed with or without turbinate modification. Studies have shown that septoplasty is effective in improving both subjective and objective outcomes in the long term, with a high percentage of patients expressing satisfaction and improvement. It is important to note that outcomes may slightly worsen over time, but overall, septoplasty remains an effective treatment option for patients with nasal obstruction.

Timeline

Before Septoplasty:

  1. Patient experiences nasal obstruction and difficulty breathing due to nasal septum deviation.
  2. Patient may experience symptoms such as congestion, sinus infections, and headaches.
  3. Patient consults with an ENT specialist to discuss the possibility of septoplasty to correct the nasal obstruction.

After Septoplasty:

  1. Patient undergoes septoplasty surgery to correct the nasal septum deviation.
  2. Patient may experience some pain, swelling, and nasal congestion in the immediate post-operative period.
  3. Patient follows post-operative care instructions, including medication, nasal irrigation, and follow-up appointments.
  4. Patient gradually experiences improvement in nasal breathing and reduction in symptoms such as congestion and headaches.
  5. Long-term follow-up shows significant improvement in subjective and objective outcomes compared to baseline.
  6. Patient expresses satisfaction and improvement rates at an average of 27.0 months after surgery.
  7. Some studies suggest that subjective outcomes may worsen slightly over time, but objective outcomes remain stable.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What specific symptoms or issues will septoplasty address for me?
  2. What are the potential risks or complications associated with septoplasty?
  3. How long is the recovery process after septoplasty?
  4. What can I expect in terms of pain management after the procedure?
  5. Will I need to follow any specific post-operative care instructions?
  6. How long do the results of septoplasty typically last?
  7. Are there any alternative treatments or procedures that may be more appropriate for my condition?
  8. How experienced are you in performing septoplasty procedures?
  9. Can you provide me with information on the success rates of septoplasty in patients with similar conditions to mine?
  10. Will I need any additional procedures, such as turbinate modification, in conjunction with septoplasty for optimal results?

Reference

Authors: Fearington FW, Awadallah AS, Hamilton GS 3rd, Olson MD, Dey JK. Journal: Laryngoscope. 2024 Jun;134(6):2525-2537. doi: 10.1002/lary.31193. Epub 2023 Nov 22. PMID: 37991145