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Long-term patient-related outcome measures of septoplasty: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

Septoplasty is a common rhinological procedure intended to relieve symptoms of chronic nasal obstruction. However, there remains a question as to whether patients obtain symptom improvement and are satisfied with surgical outcomes in the months and years after septoplasty. This review aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy of functional septoplasty for nasal septal deviation.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was conducted from November 2014 to March 2016 using the Cochrane, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. Prospective trials concerning functional septoplasty, which assessed subjective outcomes and included long-term follow-up data (≥ 9 month post-septoplasty) were included.

Results

2189 articles were screened with seven meeting the criteria for inclusion. Patient satisfaction was assessed in six studies, with rates of satisfaction provided in three of these, ranging from 69 to 100%. Two studies assessed the degree of patient satisfaction, with one study indicating that 88% of patients were moderately satisfied or better at 1 year post-op, and the other reporting that 50% of patients were satisfied. In assessing symptom relief, several methods were used, including validated questionnaires, with varying degrees of improvement in nasal obstruction reported.

Conclusions

Septoplasty appears to be a far from perfect treatment for nasal obstruction due to septal deviation. However, given the heterogeneity of data and lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), future RCTs and use of validated questionnaires would enable generation of superior levels of evidence. We suggest future prospective trials evaluating prognostic factors in septoplasty, to better inform patients and facilitate the development of guidelines for surgical intervention.

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Acknowledgements

Mr. Lars Eriksson for his expertise in generating search criteria. Dr. Emma Badenoch-Jones for her guidance and support in the systematic review of journal articles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Brisbane Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Level 9, Health Sciences Building, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Chi Lap Nicholas Tsang, Theresa Nguyen, Torunn Sivesind & Anders Cervin

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  1. Chi Lap Nicholas Tsang
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  2. Theresa Nguyen
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  3. Torunn Sivesind
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  4. Anders Cervin
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Correspondence to Chi Lap Nicholas Tsang.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have any financial conflicts of interest. One author is a practicing Otolaryngologist who performs septoplasty as a non-financial conflict of interest.

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Tsang, C.L.N., Nguyen, T., Sivesind, T. et al. Long-term patient-related outcome measures of septoplasty: a systematic review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 1039–1048 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4874-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4874-y

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