title: Open versus endoscopic septoplasty: a single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A deviated septum can be corrected by either a conventional "open" or endoscopic approach. Controversy exists regarding comparative outcomes between these two techniques. Our objective was to compare the two according to subjective and objective criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 6-month period, all patients diagnosed with a septal deviation meeting strict inclusion/exclusion criteria were recruited. Patients were randomly assigned to either the conventional or the endoscopic group. Outcome measures included surgical time, intraoperative complications, and pre- and postoperative data from the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire. Chi-square and t-tests were used for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three patients were enrolled in the study: 32 in the endoscopic group and 31 in the conventional group. There were subjective postoperative improvements in the NOSE scores across all participants and within both groups (endoscopic: preoperative mean score  =  14.7, postoperative mean score  =  7.4, p < .05; conventional: preoperative mean score  =  15.2, postoperative mean score  =  6.3, p < .05), with no differences found between groups (p  =  .61). However, objective outcomes such as operative time (p < .001) and intraoperative complications (p  =  .01) favoured the endoscopic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic approach for septoplasty may be considered superior to the traditional approach for the correction of septal deviation.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, ON.
authors: Josée
authors: J
authors: Paradis
authors: Brian W
authors: BW
authors: Rotenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult