title: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded controlled trial on biodegradable synthetic polyurethane foam as a packing material after septoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated synthetic polyurethane foam (SPF; Polyganics BV, Groningen, The Netherlands) as a packing material used after septoplasty compared with Merocel (Medtronic Xomed Surgical Products, Jacksonville, FL) in the aspects of clinical efficacy and the subjective severity of symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, single-blinded controlled study was performed in 64 patients who had undergone septoplasty. The patients were randomized to receive Merocel or SPF after septoplasty. Assessments of clinical efficacy on bleeding and pain were done and subjective symptoms related to packing materials were evaluated using questionnaires quantified by the visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in repacking or additional packing due to postoperative bleeding, bleeding and/or septal hematoma on the removal of packing, and the mucosal condition after packing removal during postoperative period between the Merocel and SPF groups. Bleeding and pain during packing removal was significantly lower in patients with SPF packing. Also, in the SPF group, patient's general satisfaction and willingness to reuse the material were higher compared with the Merocel group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPF is as suitable as Merocel to be used after septoplasty with beneficial effects on bleeding and pain at packing removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Na Hyun
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Si Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Rok
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Su
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; C028279:polyurethane foam