Long-term results after septal surgery--submucous resection versus septoplasty.

Postoperative controls, 5-9 years after surgery, were made in two groups of patients who had undergone submucous septal resection and septoplasty, respectively. The rate of subjective improvement after septoplasty was higher (77%) than after septal resection (66%). In the septoplasty group, however, the experienced surgeons had an improvement rate of 90%, whereas the untrained surgeons had no better results than after submucous septal resection. Postoperative complications, including septal perforation and deformation of the external nose, were significantly fewer after septoplasty. There were no clear-cut correlations between rhinoscopy findings and subjective results at postoperative examinations. The septoplasty technique is advocated, but in the hands of a trained surgeon.