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Improvement in minimal cross-sectional area and nasal-cavity volume occurs in different areas after septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy of inferior turbinates

  • Rhinology
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Abstract

Purpose

Septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy for inferior turbinate hypertrophy (RFIT) are common techniques used to improve nasal patency. Our aim was to compare nasal geometry and function using acoustic rhinometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) in three patients groups undergoing surgery for nasal obstruction, and to investigate if the improvement in minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal-cavity volume (NCV) occurred in different cavity areas in the groups. Finally, we evaluated the correlation between the objective measurements and the patients’ assessment of nasal obstruction (SNO).

Methods

This prospective, observational study investigated 148 patients pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively. Fifty patients underwent septoplasty (group 1), 51 underwent septoplasty combined with RFIT (group 2), and 47 underwent RFIT alone (group 3). The MCA and NCV were measured at two distances (MCA/NCV0–3.0 and MCA/NCV3–5.2), in addition to measuring PNIF and SNO.

Results

Pre-operatively, groups 1 and 2 had narrower MCA0–3.0 on one side than group 3 (0.31 ± 0.14 and 0.31 ± 0.14) versus (0.40 ± 0.16) cm2. Post-operatively, total MCA0–3.0 and MCA/NCV3–5.2 increased in group 1. In group 2, MCA/NCV0–3.0 at the narrow side and total MCA/NCV3–5.2 increased, while total MCA/NCV3–5.2 increased in group 3. PNIF improved from 106 ± 49 to 150 ± 57 l/min post-operatively. We found a correlation between increased MCA and NCV and less SNO in the septoplasty group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Surgery produced an improvement in MCA and NCV in all groups. The improvement occurred in different areas of the nasal cavity in the patient groups. Both anterior and posterior areas increased in the septoplasty groups, while only the posterior area increased in the RFIT group. PNIF improved in all three patient groups, indicating that surgery produced an improvement in nasal patency.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the ENT Department at St Olav’s University Hospital and the Unit for Applied Research (AKF) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for assisting in registry data management. The Liaison Committee between St Olav’s University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health, NTNU was the main founding contributor to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, St Olav’s University Hospital of Trondheim, 7006, Trondheim, Norway

    Ann Helen Nilsen, Wenche Moe Thorstensen, Anne-Sofie Helvik, Staale Nordgaard & Vegard Bugten

  2. Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Ann Helen Nilsen, Wenche Moe Thorstensen, Staale Nordgaard & Vegard Bugten

  3. Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway

    Anne-Sofie Helvik

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  1. Ann Helen Nilsen
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  5. Vegard Bugten
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Contributions

AHN: study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and paper drafting, WMT: study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and paper drafting. ASH: study design, statistical analysis, and paper drafting. SN: data collection and paper drafting. VB: study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and paper drafting.

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Correspondence to Ann Helen Nilsen.

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All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the regional research committee and with the Helsinki declaration.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Nilsen, A.H., Thorstensen, W.M., Helvik, AS. et al. Improvement in minimal cross-sectional area and nasal-cavity volume occurs in different areas after septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy of inferior turbinates. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 1995–2003 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5022-4

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