Predictive factors of subjective outcomes after septoplasty with and without turbinoplasty: can individual perceptual differences of the air passage be a main factor?

BACKGROUND: Although septoplasty provides adequate correction of septal deviation, patients are not always satisfied with the procedure. The degree of satisfaction after septal surgery may be affected by individual differences in the perception of one's nasal passage changes and emotional factors. The aim of this study is to identify the predictive factors that influence subjective septoplasty outcomes.
METHODS: Forty-nine patients with septal deviation and nasal obstruction were enrolled. Forty-three patients completed the study 3 months after surgery. Age, gender, allergies, smoking, and degree of septal deviation were evaluated. The differences in the visual analogue scale for nasal obstruction and nasal volume measured by acoustic rhinometry between pre-decongestant and post-decongestant states were analyzed. A stress questionnaire (SQ) and Beck's depression index (BDI) were also used to evaluate the emotional factors. Subjective satisfaction was evaluated as the difference in nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scores between baseline and 3 months postoperation.
RESULTS: Subjective satisfaction was not related to individual perceptual differences in nasal passage changes, depression index, age, gender, allergy status, smoking, or degree of septal deviation (p > 0.05 in all; univariate analysis). The baseline SQ and NOSE scores were significant predictive factors in univariate analysis. However, on multiple regression, only the baseline NOSE scores were related to subjective satisfaction after septoplasty.
CONCLUSION: Individual perceptual differences of air passage changes and emotional factors do not predict subjective symptom improvement after septoplasty. Baseline symptoms were the only predictive factor for patient satisfaction after septoplasty.