Aim of work: The aim of this study is to investigate the optimal time for intranasal splints removal in patients undergoing septal surgery.
Introduction: Insertion of intranasal splints (INSs) after septal surgery with or without turbinate surgery can cause significant pain and discomfort. Uptill now there is no evidence about the accepted optimal time for INSs removal.
Method: A prospective study of 60 patients was carried out at Benha University Hospital from April 2018 to February 2019. All patients who were splinted by silicone nasal splint bilaterally were randomly allocated into three groups A, B, and C according to time of splint removal 3, 5, and 7 days respectively. The three groups were compared regarding the bleeding, pain, infection, septal hematoma, septal perforation, crustation, and adhesions.
Results: Median pain score was significantly higher in-group C than group A (P value = 0.031). Median pain score was significantly higher in-group C than group B (P value = 0.045). Adhesions showed non-statistical significant difference between three groups (P value = 0.766). Crustations showed non-statistical significant difference between three groups (P value = 0.863). Bleeding showed non-statistical significant difference between three groups (P value = 0.863). Infection showed non-statistical significant difference between three groups (P value = 0.766). No septal perforation or hematoma were recorded.
Conclusion: Early removal of INSs significantly affects patient's comfort and decreases pain. However timing of INSs removal does not significantly affect incidence of other postoperative complications. We recommend INSs removal after 5 days as an optimal removal time.
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