Minimum follow-up for closed rhinoseptoplasties

Background

There is no established consensus on the postoperative follow-up from which the aesthetic and functional outcomes of rhinoseptoplasty are considered as stable.

Objectives

To contribute to defining the postoperative follow-up from which rhinoseptoplasty outcomes cease to evolve.

Methods

Postoperative assessments of Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) scores from 357 closed structural rhinoseptoplasty procedures were prospectively gathered from January 2019 to December 2023. These measurements encompassed the postoperative period from 1 to 12 months. All procedures were performed utilizing closed technique.

Results

: No statistically significant difference was detected between the scores at 1, 2, and 6 months versus 12 months postoperatively (ROE: p = 0.388; 0.268; 0.162; NOSE: p = 0.265; 0.192; 0.975, Mann-Whitney test). Similarly, no follow-up impact was revealed between the scores at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months postoperatively (ROE: p = 0.548; NOSE: p = 0.280, Kruskal-Wallis test). No significant correlation was established between follow-up (in months) and ROE and NOSE scores (ROE: p = 0.397; NOSE: p = 0.632, Spearman).

Conclusion

: Follow-up duration does not influence NOSE and ROE scores over the 1- to 12-month timeframe. The 1-month postoperative outcome can be regarded as a reliable indicator of the 12-month outcome. These conclusions apply to NOSE and ROE scores of rhinoseptoplasty conducted using closed technique for the 1- to 12-month period. Further research is needed for open techniques, preservation rhinoplasty, other patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) as well as for the follow-up beyond 12 months postoperatively.