Introduction
Nasal septal deviation is a condition which is frequently encountered in the general population. The chief symptom is nasal obstruction causing difficulty in breathing. Surgical correction of this problem has been the mainstay of treatment for over a century.
Freer and Killian, credited with the concept of submucous resection (SMR) form the basis of most techniques. They proposed that to correct the abnormality, the cartilage and the bone should be carefully identified between the layers of the mucous membrane and removed, with retention of both dorsal and caudal struts of cartilage. The procedure is completed by replacing the mucoperichondrial flap.
In Single sided mucoperichondrial resection, in contrast to SMR, the mucoperichondrial flap is resected.
Aims and Objectives
To determine and compare the postoperative outcome following Single sided mucoperichondrial resection and SMR.
Materials and Methods
The study to compare the single sided mucoperichondrial resection versus conventional SMR was carried out in the department of otorhinolaryngology at A J Institute Of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangalore during the period from 1st October 2018 to 31st September 2019.
Based on the inclusion criteria cases were selected from the patients who attended the out-patient clinic.
Data was collected by selecting the patients with deviated nasal septum willing for surgery. They were divided into 2 groups by random selection; 1st group underwent conventional SMR and the 2nd group- Single sided mucoperichondrial resection. Patients were assessed preoperatively and followed up postoperatively.
A total of 20 cases with symptomatic DNS were included in the study; out of which 10 cases were planned for conventional SMR and 10 cases were for Single sided mucoperichondrial resection.
A study was conducted for 1 year. Simple Prospective randomization study was conducted. Patient with symptomatic deviated nasal septum and age above 18 years were included in the study. Patient with external nasal deformity, systemic disease, past history of nasal trauma or surgery and age below 18 years were excluded in the study.
Cases selected for the study were subjected to detailed history and clinical examination and the patients were assessed subjectively and objectively before the surgery. Cold spatula test was done followed by anterior rhinoscopy.
Deviations were classified as right or left depending on the side of deviation. Depending on the involvement of cartilaginous or bony parts of septum they were classified into anterior or posterior or both. Caudal dislocation, spurs, buckling of septum were identified. Posterior rhinoscopy was done in all patients to rule out other pathologies.
Following investigations were done prior to surgery.
Blood investigations.
X ray of PNS- Water’s view and Caldwell. CT scan of paranasal sinuses were done in selected cases.
Diagnostic nasal endoscopy to rule out other pathologies.
Procedure
Conventional SMR
Killian incision is most commonly used for this procedure. It is an oblique incision about 5mm above the caudal border of the septal cartilage. Mucoperichondrial flap was elevated and an incison was made through the cartilage; the opposite perichondrium should be kept intact. With the help of an angled scissor, cut is made in the septal cartilage leaving the dorsal and caudal struts intact; to maintain the support of the nasal dorsum and columella.
The cartilage is removed with the help of a luc’s forceps. Any deviated portion of the bone in the region of the vertical plate of ethmoid is then removed. The next step is to elevate flaps off the maxillary crest and the vomer. Crest is finally removed with a hammer and gouge. Mucoperichondrial flap is replaced and nasal packing is done.
Single Sided Mucoperichondrial Resection
Killian incision is most commonly used for this procedure. It is an oblique incision about 5mm above the caudal border of the septal cartilage. Mucoperichondrial flap was elevated and an incison was made through the cartilage; the opposite perichondrium should be kept intact. With the help of an angled scissor, cut is made in the septal cartilage leaving the dorsal and caudal struts intact; to maintain the support of the nasal dorsum and columella.
The cartilage is removed with the help of a luc’s forceps. Any deviated portion of the bone in the region of the vertical plate of ethmoid is then removed. The next step is to elevate flaps off the maxillary crest and the vomer. Crest is finally removed with a hammer and gouge. The elevated mucoperichondrial flap is ‘removed’. There is no need of nasal packing in this procedure.
Results
The results of 10 cases of conventional SMR and 10 cases of single sided mucoperichondrial resection were assessed under following headings.
Symptomatology
In the conventional SMR group, commonest symptom is nasal block which is seen in 100% of patients followed by headache which is seen in 35% patients. No patients had complaints of epistaxis.
In the Single side mucoperichondrial resection group, 90% patient had nasal block, 30% patient had headache and 10% had history of epistaxis.
Signs
In this study, conventional group had 60% of patients with DNS to left and 40% of patients with DNS to right. In this group 10% had spur.
Single sided mucoperichondrial resection group had 70% of patients with DNS to left and 30% of patients with DNS to right, 20% had spur.
Table 2
Signs in the study
Postop Symptomatology: Patient who underwent both conventional and Single sided mucoperichondrial resection had 100% relief from symptoms like nasal block headache postoperatively.
Postop Complication: In the conventional group study 20% patient had septal hematoma and 10% patients had septal perforations. No patient had septal abscess. In the Single sided mucoperichondrial resection group study 20% patient had septal hematoma, septal perforations or septal abscess.
Table 3
Different complications postoperatively
Discussion
The main function of the nose (olfaction, heating, humidification and defense) require good interaction between the inspired air and the mucous membranes or the sensory cells of the olfactory system. This is achieved by complicated aerodynamics that depends on the geometry of the internal nose. The septum helps to preserve this geometry. The septum also supports the dorsum, columella and tip of the nose and as such it contributes to cosmesis. The success of functional nasal surgery, as well as cosmetic nasal surgery, depends heavily on the correction of the septum. This explains why nasal surgery almost always involves both function and aesthetics as pointed out by Maurice Cottle in 1960s.1
The nasal septum is composed of a small anterior membranous portion, cartilage and several bones: the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, the vomer and two bony crests of the maxilla and palatine. The cartilaginous portion is composed of a quadrilateral cartilage with a contribution from the lower and upper lateral alar cartilages forming the anterior nasal septum. The quadrilateral cartilage is 3-4 mm thick in its center but increases to 4-8 mm antero- inferiorly, an area which has been termed the footplate. The upper margin of the cartilage also expands where it is connected to the upper lateral cartilages, forming the anterior septal angle, just cranial to the domes of the lower lateral cartilages. The perpendicular plate forms the superior and anterior bony septum, is continous above with cribriform plate and crista galli and abuts a variable amount of the nasal bones. The vomer forms the posterior and inferior nasal septum and articltes by its two alae with the rostrum of the sphenoid, thereby creating thr vomerovaginal canals which transmit the pharyngeal branches of the maxillary artery.2
Only few deviated nasal septum’s affect the nasl function and therefore require treatment. The symptoms caused by septal deviations are entirely the result of their effects on nasal function. The dominant symptom being nasal obstruction, epistaxis, post nasal discharge, hyposmia. 3
Until the 1960s, submucous septal resection as promoted by Freer 4 and Killian 5 was standard practice in Western Europe. With this technique a more or less straight septum was obtained in the areas where the septal skeleton was resected. Septal perforation were common complication, in part due to drying of the opposing mucoperichondrium adjacent to the incision. Another drawback of this technique was that correction of pathology in the dorsal, caudal, inferiror and posterior parts of the septum was not possible.
A study was conducted in the Department of ENT, L.N.Medical College & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India to compare between SMR and Septoplasty to manage deviated nasal septum. The study claimed that both SMR and Septoplasty have their own adavantages and disadvantages but neither SMR nor Septoplasty seems to be the best treatment modality. The study showed that complications are more for SMR than that of Sptoplasty. But the functional outcomes were same in both surgeries. Septal perforation was present in 8.33% of the cases and septal hematoma was present in 2.5% of the cases. 6
Muhammed IA, Nabir-ur Rahman conducted a study at the department of Otirhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Civil Hospital, Karachi, from 1997-1999. A total 200 cases were taken. All of them were subjected to nasal septal surgery as per situation. Classical SMR was performed in most of the cases. The overall incidence of complications was septal perforation in 10 cases (5%), adhesions in 14 cases (7%), recurrence of symptoms or deformity in 12 cases (6%), saddle nose deformity in 2 cases(1%/) and columellar retraction with loss of tip projection was found in 2 cases (1%). The incidence of complications was 21% and it was higher in classical submucosal resection. 7
Kamar Iqbal, Muhammad Ismail, Amir Amanullah conducted a study to find out the functional outcome and frequency of complications with SMR and Septoplasty. The study group consists of 220 patients with symptomatic deviated nasal septum. Classical SMR was performed in 120 (54.55%) while Septoplasty in 100 (45.45%) patients. The functional results and complications of two procedures were assessed. Nasal obstruction was relieved in 89/120 (74%) patients after SMR and 72/100 (72%) after Septoplasty. The overall complication rate was 37/120 (31%) in SMR and 24/100 (24%) in Septoplasty. The study revealed no significant difference between the functional outcome and complication rates for the two procedures. 8
A.Tzadik, S.E. Gilbert, and J. Sade conducted a retrospective study with 263 patients who had previously undergone submucous resection of their nasal septa. Unsatisfactory septal corrections, perforations, and dorsal saddling were looked for and could be correlated with the skills of the ten surgeons who performed the procedures. From the total number of the patients 17 (6.4%) were noted to have persistaent septal perforations, 10 (3.8%) had residual deviations of their nasal septa, and 1 (0.4%) had a saddle nose deformity. The findings show that a well-executed submucous resection of the nasal septum carries a high incidence of complications in unskilled hands.9
Surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment in the correction of DNS, the techniques being septoplasty and SMR. Fjermedal O, Saunte C, Pedersen J (1988) did a study of 478 patients to compare between septoplasty and SMR of septum. It was found that septoplasty was associated with lesser complications and more satisfactory results compared to SMR of septum.10
In our study a new technique (Single sided mucoperichondrial resection) was introduced to address the complications caused by SMR. All 20 patients underwent surgery of which 10 were conventional SMR and 10 were Single sided mucoperichondrial resection. All surgeries were done under general anaesthesia and done by the same surgeon.
In the present study the a patients were examined on 3rd and 15th day post operatively and then monthly for 3-6 months. During each visit, the patients were assessed subjectively and objectively. The following were the results noted; Postoperative subjective assessment was done by asking the patients about the following symptoms- nasal obstruction and headache was absent in all patients (100%) in conventional SMR and in Single sided mucoperichondrial resection group.
The objective assessment was done by noting the condition of septum using nasal endoscope. Complications were- 2 patients had septal hematoma (20%) that underwent conventional SMR, 1 patient had septal perforation (10%) that underwent conventional SMR. None of the patients who underwent Single sided mucoperichondrial resection had any complications. External deformities and other complications were not seen in both the groups.
Conclusion
Single sided mucoperichondrial resection is a major innovation and good evolutionary step in the history of septal surgery.
In the conventional SMR, retention of both mucoperichondrial flaps results in many recognized complications that include septal haematoma, abscess and perforation. In Single sided mucoperichondrial resection, no complications were seen in comparision.
