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.