The Value of Intranasal Splints After Partial Inferior Turbinectomy

Abstract

To assess the value of using the intranasal septal splint after partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT) surgery. Prospective, randomized comparative study. The study was conducted over a period of 2 years from January 2012 to January 2014 at Minia University hospital, Minia, Egypt. A total of 100 patients underwent bilateral PIT. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A included 50 patients had PIT with intranasal splints and group B included 50 patients had PIT without splints. A comparison was made between the 2 groups regarding the postoperative pain, degree of nasal obstruction and the degree of tissue healing and adhesions formation at 2 time points (2 and 4 weeks postoperatively). At 2 weeks postoperatively: visual analogue score (VAS) for the pain was 5 in group A versus 2.1 in group B (P = 0.01), VAS for nasal obstruction was 6 in group A versus 5 in group B (P = 0.328), 70 % of patients had good healing in group A versus 24 % in group B (P = 0.02). At 4 weeks postoperatively: VAS for the pain was 1.5 in group A versus 1.8 in group B (P = 0.423), VAS for nasal obstruction was 7 in group A versus 6 in group B (P = 0.353), 80 % of patients had good healing in group A versus 54 % in group B (P = 0.03). The use intranasal septal splints after PIT without septal surgery can cause increased postoperative pain in the short term follow-up period with significant evidence of decreasing rates of intranasal adhesions.

Determine the Effectiveness of Intranasal Splints in Preventing Nasal Adhesion

“…[19] It has also been shown that in the short-term follow-up, increased postoperative pain may result in a considerable reduction in the rate of intranasal adhesion. [20] In current study nasal adhesion was found in 9 (7.5%) and rest were 111 (92.5%) patients did not have nasal adhesion. Intranasal splints used in septal surgery have been demonstrated to dramatically minimise the production of postoperative nasal adhesions by 2.5 percent when compared to basic nasal packing, according to Veluswamy et al2012 .…”

Intranasal Synechiae as Complications of Rhinosurgical Treatment—A Review of Current Knowledge

“…The resection involved the mucosa and a part of the inferior turbinate bone (depending on the degree of hypertrophy). The study indicated that the use of nasal separators after partial resections of the inferior turbinates statistically significantly reduces the incidence of intranasal adhesions [6].…”

Effectiveness of Intranasal Splints in Preventing Nasal Adhesion

“…The use of intra-anasal splints in the one-wall technique also demonstrated that increments in postoperative pain may lead to significantly reduced rates of intranasal adhesion in the short-term follow-up. 26 In three-month postoperative follow-ups, von Schoenberg and Robinson 27 observed that the split and non-split groups had the same low 2% adhesion rate that was shown in the early ambulatory check-up with 8 meticulous nasal baths weekly. Cook et al 28 revealed an insufficient intranasal split to avoid intranasal attachment (6.5% split versus 7.0% non-split) and concluded that intranasal splitting is not clearly advantageous, thus it should be done sparingly and advised for nasal toilets after septal surgery 9.…”