Outcomes after nasal septoplasty: results from the Nasal Obstruction Septoplasty Effectiveness (NOSE) study.
OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to assess disease-specific quality of life outcomes after nasal septoplasty in adults with nasal obstruction.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective observational outcomes multicenter study with 14 sites and 16 investigators, including private practice and academic settings. Patients had had septal deviation and symptomatic nasal obstruction for at least 3 months, and medical management had failed.


METHODS
Patients with septal deviation completed a validated outcomes instrument (the Nasal Obstruction Septoplasty Effectiveness [NOSE] scale) before and 3 and 6 months after septoplasty, with or without partial turbinectomy.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine patients underwent surgery; there was a significant improvement in mean NOSE score at 3 months after septoplasty (67.5 versus 23.1, P < 0.0001), and this improvement was unchanged at 6 months. Patient satisfaction was very high, and patients used significantly fewer nasal medications.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with septal deformity, nasal septoplasty results in significant improvement in disease-specific quality of life, high patient satisfaction, and decreased medication use.
Stewart
Michael G
MG
Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mgstew@bcm.tmc.edu
Smith
Timothy L
TL
Weaver
Edward M
EM
Witsell
David L
DL
Yueh
Bevan
B
Hannley
Maureen T
MT
Johnson
Jonas T
JT
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome