Patient-Reported Outcomes After Septoplasty With Bilateral Radiofrequency Inferior Turbinate Reduction: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION

Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a common anatomical condition that contributes to nasal obstruction and may significantly impair patients' quality of life. Septoplasty is a standard surgical treatment for symptomatic septal deviation and may be combined with inferior turbinate reduction when turbinate hypertrophy contributes to nasal obstruction. However, postoperative outcomes vary among patients, and the degree of symptom improvement is not always consistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient-reported outcomes following septoplasty with bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and to compare postoperative outcomes with those of healthy controls.

METHODS

A total of 43 patients with symptomatic nasal septal deviation and nasal obstruction were prospectively enrolled, along with 20 healthy controls. All patients underwent conventional septoplasty with concomitant bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates. Patients completed the validated Greek versions of the NOSE and SNOT-22 questionnaires before surgery and six months postoperatively. Healthy controls completed both questionnaires at baseline. Baseline demographic characteristics, including age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), were also recorded.

RESULTS

Both NOSE and SNOT-22 scores improved significantly six months after the combined surgical intervention compared with preoperative values (p < 0.001). The mean improvement in SNOT-22 score was 56.51 ± 12.67 points, while the mean improvement in NOSE score was 57.44 ± 12.55 points. At six months, postoperative NOSE and SNOT-22 scores were not significantly different from those observed in healthy controls. Age and BMI were not significantly associated with preoperative NOSE or SNOT-22 scores, whereas male patients had significantly higher preoperative SNOT-22 scores than female patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Septoplasty with bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates was associated with significant improvement in patient-reported nasal obstruction symptoms and sinonasal quality of life at six months, as reflected by marked reductions in NOSE and SNOT-22 scores. Postoperative questionnaire scores were not significantly different from those of healthy controls. Because both procedures were performed concomitantly in all patients, the relative contribution of septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction to the observed improvement cannot be determined separately.