title: Caudal septoplasty for treatment of septal deviation: aesthetic and functional correction of the nasal base.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our technique in the treatment of significant caudal septal deviation; to evaluate the effectiveness of our technique of caudal septoplasty in the treatment of caudal septal deviations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of cases taken from a database of more than 2000 patients who underwent rhinoplasty performed by 1 surgeon in a private facial plastic surgery practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medical charts were reviewed to determine the rate of preoperative nasal obstruction in 59 (95%) of 62 patients as well as nasal obstruction postoperatively 11 (17%) of 62 (P < .001). Photographs were reviewed to determine the severity of caudal deviation and the postoperative result. By photographic evaluation, we found that all but 3 patients had significant improvement in their postoperative appearance. Twenty-six patients had no evidence of residual asymmetry. The rate of revision was 5 (8%) of 62 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The caudal septoplasty technique is effective, relatively easy to perform, and shows long-term reliability in correcting caudal septal deviation. In properly selected patients, the technique is effective in improving cosmesis and nasal airflow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. sedwijd@ent.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Jack D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sedwick
authors.forename: Andres Bustillo
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Byron J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gajewski
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019990:Perioperative Care; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome