OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of septoplasty on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis by comparing (1) symptom change using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), (2) change of the medication score, and (3) improvement of the quality of life using a questionnaire. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective pilot. SETTING: Academic tertiary rhinological practice. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients who had undergone septoplasty and turbinoplasty for septal deviation and allergic rhinitis were enrolled in group A. Twenty-six patients who had undergone only turbinoplasty for allergic rhinitis were enrolled in group B. The VAS score, the Average Rescue Medication Score (ARMS), and the Rhinasthma Questionnaire for the quality of life were all obtained from each patient. These parameters were compared before and after the surgery and between the groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement of the VAS score (P < .001). When the change of VAS was compared between groups, there was a significant difference in group A only for nasal obstruction (P = .047). Comparison of the ARMS between groups showed significant improvement in both groups after the surgery (P < .01). However, there were no differences between the groups. The Rhinasthma score of group A was significantly lowered after the surgery (56.4 +/- 13.2 to 34.1 +/- 12.3, P < .001). The Rhinasthma score of group A was significantly lower than that of group B after the surgery (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first research about the potential effect of septoplasty on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects.
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