Abstract
Objective
To present results from a clinical series of patients who underwent office-based laser nasal septal cartilage reshaping.
Design
Nonrandomized prospective clinical trial.
Setting
Outpatient university-based otolaryngology clinic.
Patients
One hundred ten patients aged 11 to 66 years with symptomatic nasal obstruction due to septal deviation.
Intervention
Topical anesthesia (10% lidocaine solution) was applied to the nasal cavity. The septum was then mechanically straightened using a modified nasal speculum, and it was secured in a median position. Laser energy from a holmium:YAG laser was delivered via an optical fiber to the septum along the regions of maximum mechanical stress. Irradiation was delivered through the mucosa.
Main Outcome Measures
A subjective survey, rhinoscopy, and rhinomanometry in 110 patients before and after surgery.
Results
Eighty-four patients (76%) showed stable improvement in airways and disappearance of the attendant symptoms. The average duration of follow-up was 18 months.
Conclusions
This technique uses local, nondestructive laser irradiation to reshape septal deviations without the use of mucoperichondrial flaps or sedation.
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