Efficacy of nasal septal splints for preventing complications after septoplasty: A meta-analysis

Simultaneous Rhinoplasty and Septal Perforation Repair Using the Bone-Cartilaginous Unit

BACKGROUND

Various techniques are employed for septal perforation repair but success rates still vary. Numerous mucosal flaps are used for septal perforation closure; however, a scaffold is essential for proper positioning and enhanced mucosal growth.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of utilizing a septal bone/cartilage composite graft (BC unit) to close septal perforations in rhinoplasty patients and evaluate patient satisfaction.

METHODS

This case series included patients with septal perforation undergoing rhinoplasty and perforation repair between 2019 and 2023. BC units were used to cover the cartilaginous perforations in all patients. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year, assessing surgical results and postoperative satisfaction with the 10-item Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS).

RESULTS

In this study, 31 patients (22 female, 9 male), with a mean [standard deviation] age of 34.80 [10.31] years (range, 19-59 years), were enrolled. Nine had previousl undergone septoplasty, while four had undergone septorhinoplasty. The preoperative perforation size ranged from 6 to 27 mm (mean, 14.1 mm). At final follow-up, 26 cases (83.8%) achieved complete closure, while 3 had incomplete closures, and 2 experienced reperforation. Analysis revealed a notable mean decrease of 31.93 [26.47] in obstruction domain scores (SCHNOS-O) and a mean decrease of 44.19 [25.37] in cosmesis domain scores (SCHNOS-C).

CONCLUSIONS

Septal perforation repair and rhinoplasty can be safely and effectively performed concurrently with BC units for suitable candidates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

Optimizing Postoperative Care in Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty: A Review of the Role of Nasal Packing and Alternatives in Complication Management

Rhinoplasty, a common surgical procedure for nose reshaping, demands meticulous preoperative evaluation and precise execution. When coupled with septoplasty to address medical issues stemming from a deviated nasal septum, these procedures can lead to noteworthy postoperative complications. These encompass early issues like epistaxis and hematoma, as well as long-term challenges such as scarring and aesthetic deformities. Strategies like steroids and tranexamic acid are employed to prevent and manage these complications. A contentious aspect in postoperative care is the use of nasal packing. While some argue it aids healing and hemostasis, others avoid it due to patient discomfort. This review assesses the pros and cons of postoperative nasal packing following rhinoplasty and septoplasty. A thorough literature review spanning 2000-2023 yielded 30 relevant articles from 62. Discussion reveals that nasal packing offers limited benefits in reducing bleeding, edema and ecchymosis. In conclusion, the decision to employ nasal packing in rhinoplasty and septoplasty should be made carefully, considering patient comfort and surgical context. Evidence suggests that nasal packing may not consistently provide significant advantages and could lead to adverse outcomes. Nasal splints offer similar advantages and may be considered viable alternatives. Surgeons should tailor their approach to individual patient needs, with further research needed to refine postoperative management for these procedures.Level of Evidence III This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Comparison on the Effectiveness and Safety of Transseptal Suturing Versus Intranasal Splints After Septoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The application of transseptal suturing as an alternative to intranasal splints in preventing postoperative complications, such as synechia, and maintaining nasal septal stability following Septoplasty, remains controversial. This meta-analysis aims to systematically compare the effectiveness and safety of transseptal suturing with intranasal splints after Septoplasty.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic literature review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted. The review included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) identified through a database search in July 2023, comparing postoperative complications following Septoplasty with the transseptal suturing technique versus intranasal splints.

RESULTS

Eight published RCTs involving 570 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis revealed no significant difference between the transseptal suturing and intranasal splint techniques following Septoplasty in postoperative complications, including postoperative hemorrhage, synechia, septal hematoma, septal perforation, local infection, crusting, and residual septal deviation.

CONCLUSIONS

Transseptal suturing can be applied following Septoplasty as an alternative to intranasal splints without increasing the rate of postoperative complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

The use of different intranasal splints Doyle splints versus Reuter bivalve splints versus no splints in primary septal surgeries: A randomised clinical trial looking at morbidity

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to compare the morbidity of different types of intranasal splints (Doyle splints and Reuter bivalve splints) with no intranasal splints in primary septal surgeries and concomitant submucosal reduction of the inferior turbinate.

DESIGN

Randomised clinical trial SETTING: Single-Center trial at a tertiary care facility PARTICIPANTS: In this randomised clinical trial, 123 consecutive patients underwent primary septoplasty with bilateral submucosal reduction of the inferior turbinate, with no other concurrent procedure. Patients were randomised into three groups: Doyle splints, Reuter bivalve splints and patients with no splints placed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Following surgery, the patients were seen at three consecutive visits. During each visit, the Visual Analogue Scale score for headache, nasal obstruction, overall pain and bleeding and an endoscopic score for secretions, oedema and synechiae was filled.

RESULTS

Patients were randomised into three groups, 42 received Doyle splints, 41 Reuter bivalve splints and 40 had no splints inserted. When comparing the three groups, the first two post-op visits were scheduled significantly earlier in patients with splints (p < .05). The scores from both groups with splints were statistically higher for headache, nasal obstruction and pain, for the first visit only (p < .05). There was no statistical difference between groups when looking at each subset of the endoscopic score, at each visit (p > .05).

CONCLUSION

Increased post-operative pain, headaches and nasal obstruction scores were encountered in patients who had splints after surgery. However, endoscopic scores were statistically similar across the three groups with no difference in post-operative endoscopic scores at each visit. and no difference was seen in symptom scores and endoscopic scores between patients with different splints.

Prophylactic antibiotics in septoplasty with intranasal septal splints: A comparative analysis

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative antibiotic therapy is a common practice following septoplasty with intra-septal splints placement (ISS), even though there is a lack of evidence to support it. We sought to investigate the role of antibiotic therapy in septal surgeries with the placement of ISS.

DESIGN

A retrospective comparative study was conducted using the electronic charts of adult patients who underwent septoplasty with the placement of ISS with or without turbinate reduction. Nasal cultures were taken routinely during surgery as part of the department's protocol for monitoring infectious diseases. The ISS were also routinely examined for the presence of bacteria after their removal on the eighth day following surgery.

SETTING

A large otolaryngology department in a tertiary medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients who underwent septoplasty in our institution.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We analyzed all post-operative infections to search for risk factors in the cohort.

RESULTS

Post-operative infection rates following septoplasty with ISS were low at 6%, which is consistent with previously published rates. Infection rates were significantly higher in patients who were not treated with antibiotics (OR = 8.2, 95%CI: 1.63-41.1; p = .01, φ = 0.04). Diabetes was associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection regardless of prophylactic antibiotic therapy (OR = 5.2, 95%CI: 1.15-23.5; p = .032, φ = .04). The detection of Klebsiella pneumonia before surgery was associated with an increased rate of postoperative infection (OR = 16.6, 95%CI: 3.02-91.54; p = .001, φ = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing septoplasty with the placement of ISS are at increased risk of gram-negative bacterial colonisation, and development of postoperative nasal infection. A single preoperative dose of IV antibiotic therapy should be considered a potential prophylactic option for septoplasty with ISS.

Zinc chloride is effective as an antibiotic in biofilm prevention following septoplasty

Biofilm-state bacterial infections associated with inserted medical devices constitute a massive health and financial problem worldwide. Although bacteria exhibit significantly lower susceptibility to antibiotics in the biofilm state, the most common treatment approach still relies on antibiotics, exacerbating the phenomenon of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, we aimed to assess whether ZnCl₂ coating of intranasal silicone splints (ISSs) can reduce the biofilm infections associated with the insertion of these devices and prevent the overuse of antibiotics while minimizing waste, pollution and costs. We tested the ability of ZnCl₂ to prevent biofilm formation on ISS both in vitro and in vivo by using the microtiter dish biofilm formation assay, crystal violet staining, and electron and confocal microscopy. We found a significant decrease in biofilm formation between the treatment group and the growth control when ZnCl₂-coated splints were placed in patients' nasal flora. According to these results, infections associated with ISS insertion may be prevented by using ZnCl₂ coating, thereby obviating the overuse and abuse of antibiotics.

Reducing Surgical Risks in the Rhinoplasty Patient

Reducing complications after rhinoplasty is critical to ensuring optimal functional, aesthetic, and patient satisfaction outcomes. Many of the most frequent complications of rhinoplasty are technical in nature and can be prevented with meticulous attention to detail and preservation of critical nasal support structures. In this article, the authors review many of the common pitfalls of rhinoplasty and discuss preventative measures that can be used by the competent rhinoplasty surgeon.

Nasal Packing in Septal Surgery: A Narrative Review

Recently, alternatives to intranasal packing following septoplasty and rhinoseptoplasty have been widely used and promoted. Here, we aimed to systemically review and compare the different types of nasal packing used in these two surgeries. To assess patient comfort and surgical outcomes, we conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify and evaluate relevant articles. A detailed and extensive search was performed with the help of the keywords "nasal packing," "septoplasty," "rhinoseptoplasty," "nasal splints," and "intranasal packing." Overall, our review findings indicate that alternative methods (e.g., trans-septal suturing and insertion of intranasal splints) are better options than intranasal packing.

The Impact of Adhesions on Nasal Airflow: A Quantitative Analysis Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background

Nasal adhesions (NAs) are a known complication of nasal airway surgery. Even minor NAs can lead to significant postoperative nasal airway obstruction (NAO). Division of such NAs often provides much greater relief than anticipated.

Objective

We examine the impact of NAs at various anatomical sites on nasal airflow and mucosal cooling using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multiple test subjects.

Methods

CT scans of healthy adult subjects were used to construct three-dimensional nasal airway computational models. A single virtual 2.5 mm diameter NA was placed at one of five sites commonly seen following NAO surgery within each nasal cavity bilaterally, resulting in 10 NA models and 1 NA-free control for each subject. CFD analysis was performed on each NA model and compared with the subject's NA-free control model.

Results

4 subjects were recruited to create 44 computational models. The NAs caused the airflow streamlines to separate, leading to a statistically significant increase in mucosal temperature immediately downstream to the NAs (wake region). Changes in the mucosal temperature in the wake region of the NAs were most prominent in anteriorly located NAs with a mean increase of 1.62 °C for the anterior inferior turbinate NAs ( P < .001) and 0.63 °C for the internal valve NAs ( P < .001).

Conclusion

NAs result in marked disruption to airflow patterns and reduced mucosal cooling on critical surfaces, particularly in the wake region. Reduced wake region mucosal cooling may be a contributing factor to the exaggerated perception of nasal obstruction experienced by patients with NAs.

Surgical repair of nasal septal perforations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of techniques for the surgical repair of nasal septal perforations (NSPs) have been described. Surgical management of NSPs can be broadly divided into open versus endonasal approaches, with additional variables involving unilateral or bilateral flaps, use of grafts, and placement of splints. The objective of this study was to compare surgical approaches and their outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL Plus databases were examined for patients undergoing NSP repair. English-language studies reporting surgical management of patients with the primary diagnosis of NSP were included. Outcome measures of interest included perforation size, surgical approach characteristics, and success rate defined as complete closure assessed by surgeon postoperatively. The quality of articles was assessed with the methodological index for nonrandomized studies (MINORS) criteria. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled proportions for the different outcomes.

RESULTS

The electronic database search yielded 1076 abstracts for review. A total of 64 articles met the inclusion criteria, with 1591 patients: 1127 (71%) underwent an endonasal approach and 464 (29%) an open approach. The median (range) MINORS score was 10 (5-12) out of 16 points. Overall, 91% of patients had total closure (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-0.93, p < 0.01), with moderate heterogeneity between studies (I²  = 42.03%). There was no difference in closure success between open and endonasal approaches. Use of bilateral versus unilateral flaps, interposition grafts, and intranasal splints and packing were not associated with differences in outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Nasal septal perforation surgical repair success rates are comparable regardless of technique.