AN ENDOSCOPIC APPROACH TO THE DEVIATED NASAL-SEPTUM - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

The authors have used the nasal endoscope for the precise identificati on of pathological abnormalities of the nasal septum in relation to th e lateral nasal wall including the osteo-meatal complex and in its ult raconservative management. The aim of the study was to compare the eff icacies of endoscope-aided septoplasty (EAS) over traditional septopla sty (TS) in treating the pathological septum and turbinates, performed in 30 cases each. The subjective assessment was carried out by visual analogue scores and objective assessment by nasal endoscopy. This stu dy demonstrates the superiority and limitations of the endoscopic appr oach in managing a deviated nasal septum and the turbinates. The endos cope-aided technique was found to be more effective in relieving the c ontact areas and nasal obstruction (p = less than or equal to 0.05). T he authors advocate a combined approach - an endoscopic approach for i naccessible posterior deviation and the conservative traditional techn ique for accessible anterior deviation of the nasal septum.