Abstract

BACKGROUND
Septoplasty with turbinate surgery is common surgical treatment in patients with septal deviation and chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to evaluation objective outcomes of septoplasty with turbinate surgery by analysis of subjective symptom score with objective acoustic rhinometric test before and after surgery, prospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 45 adult patients which were done septoplasty with bilateral turbinectomy or turbinoplasty and followed up at least 3 months by one rhinologist from November 1999 to April 2000, prospectively. We analyzed subjective symptom score, minimal cross-sectional area (MCA), C-notch cross-sectional area, and total volume of both nasal cavity before and after surgery. Correlation test was studied between symptom improvement and acoustic rhinometric results. RESULTS: Twenty nine cases were male and sixteen cases female. The average age was 26.9 year-old (range: 17 to 57 years). There was significantly improvement of symptom score in postoperative 3 months (p<0.05). There was significantly increased C-notch cross-sectional area and total volume in postoperative 3 months. Symptoms improvement were associated with acoustic rhinometric profiles, but, there was not significantly correlation. CONCLUSION: Septoplasty with turbinate surgery is considered to be effective for nasal obstruction in patients with septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. Acoustic rhinometric test is favorable objective test for evaluation of symptom improvement after septal surgery.

• Keywords: Acoustic rhinometry;Symptom score;Septal deviation;Septoplasty;Turbinectomy;Turbinoplasty;