Role of Nasal Splints in Prevention of Nasal Adhesions following Septal Surgery at CMH Lahore: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the incidence of nasal adhesion formation following nasal surgery in patients of DNS (Deviated Nasal Septum) with and without postsurgical application of nasal splints with long-term follow-up. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore, Pakistan from July 2020 to July 2021. Methods: Sixty patients between the ages of 18 and 60 with deviated nasal septum who got corrective Septal Surgery were incorporated in this study. They were divided into two equal groups for analysis: Group I – where splints were placed in both nostrils of patients, and Group II – In which no splints were placed. The removal of nasal splints typically occurs on the 10th day after surgery. Both nasal cavities of patients of both groups were examined two weeks postoperatively and then after 02 months, the absence or presence of adhesions was noted. Results: In Group I patients who were given intra-nasal splints, 1 (3.330%) out of 30 developed nasal adhesions whereas 29 (96.7%) did not develop nasal adhesions. However, in Group II patients who were not given nasal splints, 6 out of 30 (20.0%) patients developed nasal adhesions while 24 (80%) were observed to have no formation of nasal synechiae with a P-value of 0.044. Conclusion: The study concluded that the use of nasal splints in patients undergoing septal surgery significantly reduces the incidence of adhesion formation in post-operative septal surgery patients, compared to those without nasal splints.

Keywords

• intranasal surgery, nasal mucosa, nasal septum, nasal blockage