COMPARISON OF OUTCOMES BETWEEN HORIZONTAL INCISION VS VERTICAL INCISION IN PATIENTS TREATED FOR SEPTAL HEMATOMA

Abstract

Introduction: Nasal septal hematoma is a medical condition in which blood accumulates within the septal space, between the cartilage and its perichondrium. Since the beginning, numerous methods of septoplasty have been described and if not carefully performed it may lead to deformities. It is important to understand the anatomy and consider the anterior nasal spine for a successful surgical operation. Objective: We aim to compare the two possible incisions; the horizontal and the vertical and observe the resulting outcome and complications in patients. Material and Methods: For the purpose of study, every patient diagnosed with septal hematoma in ENT Department of PMC Hospital during March 2018 to August 2018 was prospectively recorded. Subsequently the treatment, outcome and complications are evaluated sequentially. We used the Sino Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) Questionnaire pre-operatively and after 3 months following surgery to evaluate the outcomes of the two different procedures. Consented patients were recorded for comparison and data collected is than organized and examined using SPSS version 20.Results: Fifty-two (52) patients comprising 36 males (69% of total patients) and 16 females (31% of total patients) were registered in the study with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Resulting Complications in horizontal incision (Group-B) vs vertical incision ( Group-A) were similar with Facial Cellulitis ,Intracranial Infections at similar percentages while 31% had no complications in Group-A and 29% in Group-B i.e. overall 60% had no resulting post-operative complications. The Mean SNOT-22 scores decreased significantly from 46 pre-operatively to 18 in Group-A, and 45 to 18 in Group-B i.e. no significant difference was observed.Conclusion: We find no significant difference in both surgical methods with resulting complication and outcomes on SNOT-22 being very close and relative however for further accuracy more data and tools will be needed.