Nasal obstruction is a common complaint in both children and adults in the outpatient department. Causes for obstruction include allergic rhinitis, septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy and chronic sinusitis with or without nasal polyps. For symptomatic patients with moderate to severe septal deviation, septoplasty remains the treatment of choice. Septal surgery in children is generally delayed until the age of 16 years or more due to concerns around the facial growth. In addition, surgeons are often in a dilemma regarding how successful septal surgery would be when performed in children and adolescents. This paper looked at the incidence of re-deviation of the septum following septoplasty in both adolescents and adults. It also compared the complication rates between the two groups. The study is retrospective looking at 52 adolescents and 549 adults. The results suggest that re-deviation was more common in adolescents (21.1%) compared to adults (7.1%) in adults and was statistically significant. Authors do acknowledge that the numbers between the groups are unequal but are aware that septal surgery is more often done in adults than in children and adolescents. I feel the paper does answer an important question which should be taken into account when considering young adults /adolescents for septal surgery.
Should we do septoplasty in young adults/adolescents?
Reviewed by Sangeeta Maini and Bhaskar Ram
Incidence of re-deviated nasal septum after septoplasty in adolescent and adult patients.
CONTRIBUTOR
Sangeeta Maini
FRCS ORL-HNS, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Forresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN.
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