2.2 Participants
This prospective pilot study utilized data from a small cohort of 25 patients over 18 years old within a single institution at <blinded for review>. Patients were recruited into the study between November 2016 to May 2018 during their preoperative evaluation for routine septoplasty with ITR. All patients underwent endoscopic septoplasty and ITR. It was noted that all patients had compensatory hypertrophy of the nasal turbinate and turbinate hypertrophy as well. All participating subjects had a CT scan of the sinuses as part of the preoperative workup. Only those without evidence of sinus disease were consented to participate in the surgery. Patients with a previous history of septoplasty or a history of other sinonasal surgeries were excluded from this study. Similarly, patients with previous middle ear surgeries or a known etiology for aural symptoms were excluded from the study. Patients were included in the case group if they reported symptoms of otalgia or aural fullness at the time of preoperative evaluation and were scheduled for septoplasty. The control group had indications for routine septoplasty without any preoperative aural complaints. Neither group had adenoidal tissue that further contributed to the obstruction of the post nasal space.