Objective: Transseptal suture-assisted septoplasty and coblation are two techniques that can effectively treat septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy without the need for post-operative packing. In the existing literature, however, the early post-operative symptoms and surgical outcomes of the combination of these 2 procedures have not been addressed.
Method: This retrospective study included 65 patients who underwent concomitant nasal septoturbinoplasty. The patients were divided into two groups: the transseptal suture-assisted septoplasty and inferior turbinate coblation group (no-packing group: 33 patients) and the conventional septoturbinoplasty group with merocel packing (packing group: 32 patients). The post-operative symptoms within 14 days, complications and surgical outcomes at 3 months after surgery were recorded and analyzed.
Results: The patients in the no-packing group experienced less nasal obstruction on the first, second and third days post-operatively than those in the packing group (P < 0.000, P < 0.000, and P = 0.043, respectively). The patients in the no-packing group also had less nasal bleeding (P = 0.000 and P = 0.001), dry mouth sensation (P = 0.016 and P = 0.034) and swallowing disturbance (P = 0.013 and P = 0.012) on the first and second days post-operatively, respectively. In terms of orbital symptoms, the patients in the packing group had more severe epiphora (P = 0.031) and swelling sensations (P = 0.040) on the first day post-operatively.
Conclusions: Transseptal suturing and coblation-assisted septoturbinoplasty can be considered to prevent packing-related comorbidities and reduce post-operative discomfort.
Copyright © 2020 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.