The effects of septoplasty on disease-specific and general quality of life: A retrospective longitudinal trial
Gokce Simsek1, Bengi Arslan2, Burak Erden1, Nuray Bayar Muluk1, Rahmi Kilic1
1Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kbb Anabilim Dalı, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
2Gebze Devlet Hastanesi Kbb Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
Keywords: Nasal septum, NOSE scale, outcome assessment, quality of life, septoplasty, septum deviation, Short Form (36) Health Survey, surgery.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate local and general quality of life (QOL) indexes during pre- and postoperative periods in patients who underwent septoplasty procedure.
METHODS: This study is a retrospective review with prospective follow-up performed at a tertiary referral hospital. All patients who were performed septoplasty between January 2011 and January 2012 were identified. Disease-specific QOL was assessed by a Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire, and general health status was measured by a 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Both of the questionnaires were applied twice in the same visit to measure patients’ satisfaction in pre- and postoperative periods.
RESULTS: A comparison of pre- and postoperative values after two years did not reveal any significant changes in the eight categories of SF-36 (physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, general health, emotional role, mental health, social functioning, and vitality). The mean pre- and postoperative NOSE scores were 53.4±14.5 and 26.0±17.8, respectively (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, septoplasty has a significant impact on local symptoms, and markedly improves disease-specific QOL. An evaluation of SF-36 showed that septoplasty has no impact on general health.