The benefits of septoplasty for patients with deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

The value of endoscopic septoplasty for patients with deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis has not been systematically summarized. This study aims to assess the impact of surgical intervention on quality of life through a meta-analysis.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, CNKI, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for studies on the treatment of patients with deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis up to 2024. Studies that were duplicates, lacked full text, had incomplete data, or involved animal experiments, commentaries, or systematic reviews were excluded. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 16.0.

RESULTS

The total nasal symptom score (TNSS) in patients who received endoscopic surgery was considerably reduced compared to those treated with spray therapy alone, indicating a significant improvement (SMD = -21.29, 95% CI: -26.26, -116.33). Classic symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including rhinorrhea (SMD=-9.97, 95% CI: -16.97, -2.98), nasal obstruction (SMD=-27.25, 95% CI: -41.12, -13.38), nasal itching (SMD=-10.32, 95% CI: -13.16, -7.48), and sneezing (SMD=-12.66, 95% CI: -14.99, -10.34), showed significant improvement. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two treatments (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.49, 2.10).

CONCLUSION

Patients with a deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis benefit more from septoplasty. However, the procedure should be performed cautiously by experienced clinicians, taking into account the specific condition of the nasal septum.