title: Effects of nasal pack use on surgical success in septoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the effects of nasal packs on surgical success and related complications in septoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients (21 males, 17 females; mean age, 36.6 years, range 18 to 61 years) were included in the study. Septoplasty candidates were prospectively divided into two groups. Nasal packing and transseptal suture technique was applied to patients in group 1 (n=16) and group 2 (n=22), respectively. Postoperative pain was assessed with the visual analog scale. The success of surgery was questioned using the Nasal Obstruction Septoplasty Effectiveness (NOSE) scale. Surgical success was defined as a 50% decrease in the NOSE scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference in surgical success and complication rates between the groups (p>0.05). Pain scores were significantly higher in group 1 (p=0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study results suggest that nasal pack use does not affect surgical success and complication rates in septoplasty. Pack-free septoplasty with the transseptal suture technique is an effective method in the treatment of septal deviation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Faculty of Başkent University, 06490 Bahçelievler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eşki
authors.forename: Işıl Adadan
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Güvenç
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hızal
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006490:Hemostatics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013630:Tampons, Surgical; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics