Limited septoplasty for endoscopic sinus surgery.

Septoplasty, in its myriad forms, has been used for decades as a treatment to correct nasal airway obstruction. In some cases septoplasty is done to achieve adequate visualization for further work on the nose or paranasal area. With the onset of FESS the correction of the deviated septum has increasingly been done to facilitate adequate visualization and to allow room for endoscopic instrumentation. Limited septoplasty incorporates parts of both classic nasal septal reconstruction (or Cottle septoplasty) and submucous resection of the septum. Limited septoplasty is primarily used when there is a specific deviation of the septum that limits the ability of the surgeon to accomplish surgical goals-namely, adequate visualization of the surgical field during surgery and during postoperative care. Decreased nasal obstruction is only a secondary consideration for limited septoplasty.