The Effect of Smoking on Septoplasty and Septorhinoplasty Outcomes

Abstract

Background There have been many studies in the literature describing the techniques, the associated comorbidities and the outcomes related to septoplasty and septorhinoplasty, while there have been few studies evaluating the effects of cigarette smoking on septorhinoplasty. The present study evaluates the effect of cigarette smoking on complication and revision rates and compares the functional results of smoking and non-smoking patients.

Method The data of 598 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the age, gender, cigarette smoking status, type of operation, NOSE scores, complications and revision rates were recorded. For the purpose of the study, three different patient groups were defined, being those who had never smoked, those who smoked in the past but had quit and active cigarette smokers. The preoperative and postoperative 6th month Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Questionnaire scores were compared, and the three groups were compared in terms of complications and the need for revision.

Results No differences were identified in the complication rates or revision requirements of the three groups with different cigarette smoking statuses (p=0.17 and p=0.74, respectively). The NOSE scores of the surgery groups and cigarette smoking categories improved significantly after the operation (p=0.01). No difference was identified in the NOSE scores of the groups with different cigarette smoking statuses (p>0.05).

Conclusion Active cigarette smoking has no effect on the functional results and rates of complication/revision after septoplasty or septorhinoplasty operation. That said, surgeons should suggest that patients quit smoking preoperatively in order to minimize the general systematic effects of cigarette smoking.