title: Are too many septal deviations operated on? A retrospective patient`s satisfaction questionnaire with 11 years follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Not much is known about long-term satisfaction of septoplasty. The goal of this study was to assess disease specific quality of life outcomes as well as satisfaction at more than 10 years follow-up after septoplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study was conducted as a retrospective questionnaire study (based on the NOSE scale) in which a questionnaire was sent to every patient and followed up by a telephone interview conducted in a tertiary otorhinolaryngologic clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  238 out of 369 patients who underwent septoplasty accepted to participate of which 222 were eligible. We found a significant reduction in NOSE score from 56.9 before surgery to 31.9 at follow-up. 68.0% experienced improved nasal breathing and 55.9% were satisfied with the overall outcome. Predictive analysis showed that only severity of symptoms before surgery was predictive of all final outcome parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term outcome of septoplasty appears to be in line with shorter follow-up. Surprisingly a sizable difference was noted between rate of satisfaction and improvement in nasal breathing. It is important that the surgeon and patient have the same expectations to septoplasty as to avoid any inappropriate disappointment, which is more likely to occur if symptoms are not severe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorlaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Righospitalet and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. drg777@alumni.ku.dk
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Toyserkani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frisch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult