Clinical outcomes for the surgical treatment of sinonasal headache.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to explore the changes in patient-relevant clinical outcomes in a selected group undergoing surgery for nasal septal and turbinate abnormalities. Study design Seventy-nine consecutive patients with headache and correctable anatomic nasal obstruction were seen at the study institution from March 1998 to May 2000. These patients were evaluated for changes in patient-relevant clinical outcomes measures after surgical correction of their anatomic abnormalities.


RESULTS
Seventy-one patients underwent surgical correction of nasal obstruction. More than half of these patients had contact points preoperatively. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the patient population with respect to 8 of the 10 clinical outcomes measures. Importantly, a decrease in the severity and frequency of headaches was noted after surgery, especially after the correction of contact points.


CONCLUSIONS
The surgical correction of the septum and turbinates resulted in predictable improvement in headache and a majority of other important outcomes measures. Clinical significance Pain may improve after surgical correction of septal and turbinate abnormalities in a properly selected group.
Harley
David H
DH
Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Vanderbilt Bill Wikerson Center for Otolaryngology, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2559, USA.
Powitzky
Eric S
ES
Duncavage
James
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*