Patient-Reported Outcomes After Septoplasty With Bilateral Radiofrequency Inferior Turbinate Reduction: A Prospective Cohort Study.
- 1Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC.
- 2Otorhinolaryngolohy, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, GRC.
- 3Speech and Language Therapy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC.
Abstract
Introduction
Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a common anatomical condition that contributes to nasal obstruction and may significantly impair patients' quality of life. Septoplasty is a standard surgical treatment for symptomatic septal deviation and may be combined with inferior turbinate reduction when turbinate hypertrophy contributes to nasal obstruction. However, postoperative outcomes vary among patients, and the degree of symptom improvement is not always consistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient-reported outcomes following septoplasty with bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and to compare postoperative outcomes with those of healthy controls.Methods
A total of 43 patients with symptomatic nasal septal deviation and nasal obstruction were prospectively enrolled, along with 20 healthy controls. All patients underwent conventional septoplasty with concomitant bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates. Patients completed the validated Greek versions of the NOSE and SNOT-22 questionnaires before surgery and six months postoperatively. Healthy controls completed both questionnaires at baseline. Baseline demographic characteristics, including age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), were also recorded.Results
Both NOSE and SNOT-22 scores improved significantly six months after the combined surgical intervention compared with preoperative values (p < 0.001). The mean improvement in SNOT-22 score was 56.51 ± 12.67 points, while the mean improvement in NOSE score was 57.44 ± 12.55 points. At six months, postoperative NOSE and SNOT-22 scores were not significantly different from those observed in healthy controls. Age and BMI were not significantly associated with preoperative NOSE or SNOT-22 scores, whereas male patients had significantly higher preoperative SNOT-22 scores than female patients.Conclusions
Septoplasty with bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates was associated with significant improvement in patient-reported nasal obstruction symptoms and sinonasal quality of life at six months, as reflected by marked reductions in NOSE and SNOT-22 scores. Postoperative questionnaire scores were not significantly different from those of healthy controls. Because both procedures were performed concomitantly in all patients, the relative contribution of septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction to the observed improvement cannot be determined separately.
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BibTeX
@article{michali2026patientreported,
title = {{Patient-Reported Outcomes After Septoplasty With Bilateral Radiofrequency Inferior Turbinate Reduction: A Prospective Cohort Study.}},
author = {Maria C Michali and Ioannis G Kastanioudakis and Ioannis D Komnos and Lentiona Basiari and Polyniki Kastanioudaki and Vasileios Danielidis and Alexandros Georgolios and Nafsika Ziavra},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.116498},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894860},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Patient-Reported Outcomes After Septoplasty With Bilateral Radiofrequency Inferior Turbinate Reduction: A Prospective Cohort Study.
AU - Maria C Michali
AU - Ioannis G Kastanioudakis
AU - Ioannis D Komnos
AU - Lentiona Basiari
AU - Polyniki Kastanioudaki
AU - Vasileios Danielidis
AU - Alexandros Georgolios
AU - Nafsika Ziavra
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/18
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.116498
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894860
AB - Introduction Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a common anatomical condition that contributes to nasal obstruction and may significantly impair patients' quality of life. Septoplasty is a standard surgical treatment for symptomatic septal deviation and may be combined with inferior turbinate reduction when turbinate hypertrophy contributes to nasal obstruction. However, postoperative outcomes vary among patients, and the degree of symptom improvement is not always consistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient-reported outcomes following septoplasty with bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and to compare postoperative outcomes with those of healthy controls.Methods A total of 43 patients with symptomatic nasal septal deviation and nasal obstruction were prospectively enrolled, along with 20 healthy controls. All patients underwent conventional septoplasty with concomitant bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates. Patients completed the validated Greek versions of the NOSE and SNOT-22 questionnaires before surgery and six months postoperatively. Healthy controls completed both questionnaires at baseline. Baseline demographic characteristics, including age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), were also recorded.Results Both NOSE and SNOT-22 scores improved significantly six months after the combined surgical intervention compared with preoperative values (p < 0.001). The mean improvement in SNOT-22 score was 56.51 ± 12.67 points, while the mean improvement in NOSE score was 57.44 ± 12.55 points. At six months, postoperative NOSE and SNOT-22 scores were not significantly different from those observed in healthy controls. Age and BMI were not significantly associated with preoperative NOSE or SNOT-22 scores, whereas male patients had significantly higher preoperative SNOT-22 scores than female patients.Conclusions Septoplasty with bilateral radiofrequency reduction of the inferior turbinates was associated with significant improvement in patient-reported nasal obstruction symptoms and sinonasal quality of life at six months, as reflected by marked reductions in NOSE and SNOT-22 scores. Postoperative questionnaire scores were not significantly different from those of healthy controls. Because both procedures were performed concomitantly in all patients, the relative contribution of septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction to the observed improvement cannot be determined separately.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -