Nasality outcome in unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis following
functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Abstract
Objectives: In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of
abnormal nasality in patients with unilateral rhinosinusitis and their
nasality outcomes following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).
Design, Setting, Participants: A total of 42 patients with unilateral
chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent unilateral FESS between April 2016
and November 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided into two
groups, wide opening surgery and limited surgery, according to the
severity of the disease. Questionnaires on sinonasal symptoms and
nasality were recorded. Main outcome measures: The change in the
nasalance score and symptoms were measured preoperatively, 6 months, and
12 months after the operation. Results: Among 42 patients, the
subjective reports showed that one-third of unilateral chronic
rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients had abnormal nasality preoperatively and
significant improvement following FESS. The Lund-Mackay score was
significantly negatively correlated with preoperative nasalance of
[i] and positively correlated with change of nasalance of [i].
The increase in the value of [i] is statistically significant
(p=0.01) following FESS. In the wide opening surgery group, the change
in nasalance was significant, but not in the limited surgery group.
Conclusion: Although only one side of the nasal airway was involved,
one-third of the patients reported abnormal nasality. In patients with
more disease severity who underwent wide opening surgery, the nasalance
significantly increased 1 year after FESS. The increase in the nasalance
score may represent a return to a normal status since the self-reported
nasality assessment was significantly improved postoperatively.